Monday, November 20, 2006
Here is where a blog is freaky. I did a search to find the Scottish ball in Taipei and found our blog! We are really posted!
I've figured out that my mood swings are currently coinciding with our travel opportunities. I think I'll plan all of them after February in one foul swoop. Mood swings are ok. I find a new way to deal with them every time. Last time I just turned 40, read a book about being an expat ("Raising Global nomads"), realized I was once again normal, and moved on. I think this slump will require a vacation and finishing my Christmas shopping!
Here's us. We hiked this weekend. It is cooling off here in Taipei. Sam wore his coat outside over his shorts today! I still sweated going to pick up Jessi at school today, but I was hauling a 14 lb frozen turkey and about the same weight in potatoes! Jessi's class is making Thanksgiving dinner for all of the parents on Wednesday. We'll be on Holiday in Taipei, but Taipei will not be on Holiday. We've decided to go to the zoo! Jessi won't have soccer practice or girlscouts! Ahhh. Soccer photo opportunity:
Oh - we had halloween here. It was great. There is a section of AIT (American Institute of Taipei) houses up on top of Yangmingshan (Yang Ming Mountain) with nice wide streets and big yards. We visited Jessi's friend Veronica up there and did a pretty traditional trick or treat. It was good for me! Sam was a pirate and Jessi was a cat. Oh, and then Sam was a fireman and Jessi was a fairy... They both had a great time. There were fake bats and real bats, so Sam has decided that they are all Veronica's pets!
We went up the mountain yesterday after a slow morning. Slow morning: go to scottish ball and saturday night and realize that a snug fitting bodice is a bad thing when there is a lot of food and drink. Get up Sunday morning and play around the house. THEN, when Paul finally gets up, the family goes to lunch at Wendell's (German bakery - neither Paul nor the kids had been there before) Sam got a sponge bob platter (Weinershnitzel) and Jessi got the pinocchio (german sausage and mash). Paul and I thought Weinershnitzel was a sort of sausage. SO, today we learned that it is actually a pork fritter. Still tasty. Please note: we parked in a red zone, but "hey, everybody does it!". Heh. So we hang out and look at the monstrous ginger bread house in the bakery till I get antsy again and we start to walk. We roam the alleys happily as you do when you have no solid plans, and then I looked up to see flashing lights. And my car was being slowly lifted into the air. I run. I say "dui bu chi" "wo de qi che". He says "hoa". And they put down my car and leave. Me, being a firm believer in karma and also being not-so-bright sometimes. I say "ticket?" and do my sign language for writing on paper. The nice policeman waves his hand and walks away. The tow truck driver - he was not so pleased.
So, we drove up the mountain for a short hike in the fog. Apparently, if we continue forward on this hike, we can see water buffalo! One and then bedtime.
Love to all,
I've figured out that my mood swings are currently coinciding with our travel opportunities. I think I'll plan all of them after February in one foul swoop. Mood swings are ok. I find a new way to deal with them every time. Last time I just turned 40, read a book about being an expat ("Raising Global nomads"), realized I was once again normal, and moved on. I think this slump will require a vacation and finishing my Christmas shopping!
Here's us. We hiked this weekend. It is cooling off here in Taipei. Sam wore his coat outside over his shorts today! I still sweated going to pick up Jessi at school today, but I was hauling a 14 lb frozen turkey and about the same weight in potatoes! Jessi's class is making Thanksgiving dinner for all of the parents on Wednesday. We'll be on Holiday in Taipei, but Taipei will not be on Holiday. We've decided to go to the zoo! Jessi won't have soccer practice or girlscouts! Ahhh. Soccer photo opportunity:
Oh - we had halloween here. It was great. There is a section of AIT (American Institute of Taipei) houses up on top of Yangmingshan (Yang Ming Mountain) with nice wide streets and big yards. We visited Jessi's friend Veronica up there and did a pretty traditional trick or treat. It was good for me! Sam was a pirate and Jessi was a cat. Oh, and then Sam was a fireman and Jessi was a fairy... They both had a great time. There were fake bats and real bats, so Sam has decided that they are all Veronica's pets!
We went up the mountain yesterday after a slow morning. Slow morning: go to scottish ball and saturday night and realize that a snug fitting bodice is a bad thing when there is a lot of food and drink. Get up Sunday morning and play around the house. THEN, when Paul finally gets up, the family goes to lunch at Wendell's (German bakery - neither Paul nor the kids had been there before) Sam got a sponge bob platter (Weinershnitzel) and Jessi got the pinocchio (german sausage and mash). Paul and I thought Weinershnitzel was a sort of sausage. SO, today we learned that it is actually a pork fritter. Still tasty. Please note: we parked in a red zone, but "hey, everybody does it!". Heh. So we hang out and look at the monstrous ginger bread house in the bakery till I get antsy again and we start to walk. We roam the alleys happily as you do when you have no solid plans, and then I looked up to see flashing lights. And my car was being slowly lifted into the air. I run. I say "dui bu chi" "wo de qi che". He says "hoa". And they put down my car and leave. Me, being a firm believer in karma and also being not-so-bright sometimes. I say "ticket?" and do my sign language for writing on paper. The nice policeman waves his hand and walks away. The tow truck driver - he was not so pleased.
So, we drove up the mountain for a short hike in the fog. Apparently, if we continue forward on this hike, we can see water buffalo! One and then bedtime.
Love to all,
# posted by 4intaipei @ 6:21 AM 
