Catching Up

A whole month snuck by. It's been kind of a stressful one at that. "Issues" arose with Larry's contract and well, things just seem to take longer here to work out. Thankfully, it appears as if things are working out and we are sleeping a little better.

Our townhouse is starting to feel and look like a home since our shipment from the US finally arrived...88 days later. Only a few moving casualties, including two of my Madam Alexander dolls. The food even made it. The girls have enjoyed the Pop Tarts, grits and granola bars. Some of the uppity grocery stores sell those things (well, not the grits) but you pay DEARLY. I'm not willing to pay 45RMB (about $7) for a box of Cocoa Puffs. Besides, I really enjoy walking to the neighborhood center, which is about a mile, and trying to "communicate" with the folks there. This place has a grocery store, a gym, KFC (really!), candy store, bakery, coffee shop, camera/film developing, kitchen center, florist and a fresh market. When I say fresh market I mean it. I'm pretty sure when you ask for chicken breasts they go in the back and slaughter them right there. The fruits and vegetables are amazing as well as the fresh made noodles. I keep forgetting to bring my camera to capture the scene.

I must say moving to China was the best thing to change my attitude regarding exercise. That and the fact that I still feel like the largest woman in China. Slowly but sure, though, the weight is coming off and I haven't felt this healthy in a while. Our townhouse has four stories so I've got a built-in Stairmaster. The girls ride their bikes and/or their scooters everyday. I think Larry and I are going to break down and buy a couple for ourselves. I just don't know if I'll ever feel confident enough to ride with the masses.