tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38287715541926122024-02-08T11:29:47.747+08:00the life we choosethe ups and downs of an expat family.lizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828771554192612.post-25404224185324219492023-01-17T03:06:00.001+08:002023-01-17T03:07:13.100+08:00<p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #ffffe5; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"> Wow. I just opened this not long ago and what a blast to see the life we had. So much has changed since my last post. I am thinking it would be nice to revisit my blogging. Life is certainly different with only one child left home and a return to the United States. So much going on in life always and visiting this different season would be wonderful. Hope to see you there!</span></p>lizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828771554192612.post-80437553376168769922012-03-28T18:46:00.000+08:002012-03-28T18:46:12.485+08:005 days until the 1940's census is released<a href="https://the1940census.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">https://the1940census.com/</span></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/aYHjXVDkr0Y?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>i signed up to do indexing for the release of the 1940 census. maybe the link above will inspire and help you do the same. i have never done indexing before and i am hoping i will enjoy it. lizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828771554192612.post-43936825495321123202012-03-27T10:33:00.001+08:002012-03-27T15:25:20.097+08:00in the newstwo stories of interest to me in the news this morning. <br />
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<tr><td align="center" class="title">China to ban transplants from executed prisoners <br />
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<tr><td align="center" height="26">2012-March-26 08:53 Shenzhen Daily</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" class="bt_content"><div style="text-align: left;"></div>CHINA has pledged to abolish the practice of taking transplant of human organs from condemned<br />
prisoners within three to five years, a senior health official said Thursday.China is creating a national<br />
organ donation system to reduce its reliance on inmates and encourage donations from the public,<br />
Huang Jiefu, vice minister of health, told a conference in Hangzhou. A trial system has been launched<br />
in 16 provinces to achieve the goal, Huang said. Health officials have said insufficient organ donations <br />
by the public mean that the majority of transplanted organs in China come from executed prisoners —<br />
but only with prior consent.Statistics from the Ministry of Health show that about 1.5 million people<br />
in China need transplants, but only some 10,000 transplants are performed annually.<br />
China has been making efforts to improve its regulations on organ transplants.<br />
The State Council issued its first regulations on human organ transplants in 2007, banning <br />
organizations and individuals from trading human organs in any form.<br />
A revision to China’s Criminal Law marked the first time for authorities to single out criminal<br />
activity related to transactions involving human organs.<br />
Criminals convicted of “forced organ removal, forced organ donation or organ removal from<br />
juveniles” could face homicide charges.<br />
(Xinhua)<br />
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<tr><td align="center" class="title">Pursuit of luxury brands by students triggers concern <br />
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<tr><td class="bt_content"><div style="text-indent: 2em;"></div><div style="text-indent: 2em;"><span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">Wang Yuanyuan</span></span></div><div style="text-indent: 2em;"><span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">It's summer vacation, a time when students are free and annual summer sales </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">reign. On the busiest shopping streets in Shenzhen, young student shoppers</span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;"> are everywhere, even in the shops selling luxury world-famous brands that </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">would frighten even some white-collar workers with their sky-high prices.</span></span></div><div style="text-indent: 2em;"><span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">Some students even cross the border to Hong Kong on shopping sprees. Many go</span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">home with a pile of booty. </span></span><span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">When Zhong Shuhua saw her 16-year-old daughter's </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">shopping bag, which was filled with trendy clothes and cosmetic products, </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">she found herself gobsmacked. </span></span><span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">"I was so surprised to see what she had bought </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">in Hong Kong," Zhong said. "Lipsticks from Revlon, eyeliners from Rimmel, </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">dresses from I.T., a necklace from Swarovski and skin-care products from </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">Lancome -- all the things she doesn't need at such a young age." What Zhong </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">didn't know was that her daughter was definitely not an exception.</span></span><span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">Unlike years </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">ago, many middle school students now seem to have abandoned the cheaply </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">fashionable products in the Dongmen shopping area, once a paradise for </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">fashionistas with little money in their pockets. They've shifted their </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">playground to the high-end shopping malls for the brand products that are quite </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">beyond their means. </span></span><span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">"The beginning of every semester is always a time to show </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">off," said a teacher surnamed Cai at Bao'an Senior Middle School. Many </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">students come back to school with the prizes they've purchased during vacation.</span></span></div><div style="text-indent: 2em;"><span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">"Boys have the latest cell phones or new PSPs and girls spread all kinds of </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">skin-care products on the table and trendy shoes under their beds in their </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">dormitories," Cai said. </span></span><span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">Of course not all students are like that, said Xu Qin, </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">a soon-to-be Senior 2 student from Shenzhen No.2 Experimental School. But the </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">phenomenon does exist among Xu's classmates and friends, Xu said.</span></span></div><div style="text-indent: 2em;"><span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">Xu thought these problems might be the result of massive TV commercials and </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">popular fashion magazines widely read by students. </span></span><span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">"We have lots of channels to</span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">get this kind of information," Xu said. "The more information you get, the more </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">you want to have them. So those who have a large amount of pocket money start </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">to buy these things, and the trend will gradually spread to their friends, </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">classmates and eventually the whole school." </span></span><span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">Xu said she was not a brand-name </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">fanatic but occasionally buys some of the expensive products when shopping </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">with her friends. "After a half-day shopping in Sasa Cosmetics in Hong Kong </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">with my friends, it was a mission impossible to wind up empty-handed, even </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">though I knew they were far too expensive for me," said Xu. </span></span><span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">The trend has </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">triggered concerns among many parents and teachers who regard the pursuit of </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">brand-name products as stunting the proper development of students. </span></span><span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">"These </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">things are expensive and, most importantly, unnecessary for students," said </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">Cai. "The most important thing for them to learn now is the value of hard work,</span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">which can make them realize wasting their parents' money is a shame. They must</span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">get to know that in the future, they have to rely on themselves."</span></span></div><div style="text-indent: 2em;"><span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">Schools have a role in educating students about this, said Pi Aimin, principal </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">of Shenzhen Wenjing Middle School. But Pi thinks parents can do more.</span></span></div><div style="text-indent: 2em;"><span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">"Family education plays a crucial role in the issue," Pi said. "Parents should </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">control the amount of money they allow them to spend and never encourage their </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">children to get high scores in study by offering luxury gifts. Instead, they </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">can encourage them to participate in social work and help those in need. </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">Cultivating children's sense of independence is helpful to prevent them from </span></span><br />
<span lang="ZH-CN"><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: 宋体;">using parents' money for unnecessary things."</span></span></div><div style="text-indent: 2em;"></div></td></tr>
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Shenzhen Daily E-mail:szdaily@szszd.com.cn</div></td></tr>
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</tbody> </table>lizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828771554192612.post-85847436322809417322011-02-11T11:27:00.011+08:002011-02-11T14:13:44.511+08:00still in china<span style="font-size: large;">thanks everyone for your kind comments and thoughts. no, i haven't fallen off the edge of the earth, i'm still here! eager to get on with life and blogging, and of course catching up with all of you. many of you have moved and had great changes in my year of no blogging. i will be so happy to catch up with you and to peep in on you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">before summer vacation my family took a 10 day china trip. we went to some places we had been wanting to see and i had been meaning to share some of the images but, of course, never did. i am going to do this now. enjoy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">we spent a few days in beijing. i had so much fun and there was so much to do that i would love to return and have a more relaxed visit. not always as fun to cram more in to your time. i like to relax and enjoy my time. anyway, first we visited the forbidden city. there was quite a crowd and the non-queueing ( which translates to pushing, shoving, and dog eat dog atmosphere) was at its best.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_0NiFb-ztcI2ORtVZOOVJYhXukighpThsXtk_xb-juBmj6-zW9TJzSvKjRSLV8AmYJmyDGpt9rO8AFY_9xJe207Zs5i-Wy12xercTYywcpkKioQYTMDe0AppLb_Vmp5jxMlc5v4Wi6c/s1600/DSC01993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_0NiFb-ztcI2ORtVZOOVJYhXukighpThsXtk_xb-juBmj6-zW9TJzSvKjRSLV8AmYJmyDGpt9rO8AFY_9xJe207Zs5i-Wy12xercTYywcpkKioQYTMDe0AppLb_Vmp5jxMlc5v4Wi6c/s320/DSC01993.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">holding hands so they don't get seperated</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS06S0vDUfjERMgR0kHd97Etp8Hdb2a_-p82wfjcACdoRUWbz3NiAwPfpgOgrSKVMz_8q-a1RKHYRmBQqV_H8waGS2P5r81wOBB7KhEuLtUZKC6BLHWnwZP5eJQnioTAYKV-WD02EkXo8/s1600/DSC01996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS06S0vDUfjERMgR0kHd97Etp8Hdb2a_-p82wfjcACdoRUWbz3NiAwPfpgOgrSKVMz_8q-a1RKHYRmBQqV_H8waGS2P5r81wOBB7KhEuLtUZKC6BLHWnwZP5eJQnioTAYKV-WD02EkXo8/s400/DSC01996.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">the iconic view of the front of the forbidden city</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCysNxc1y9jJ_mq9uVI04etW2okETlXBJKrhBz1DR3OcpOy6y1ZzCs6TyVCd_x2lwYmdbQZgQpW0DpwKD4OkBiJxbRls2en9l5EBYo1nbpXFkvK3udqKtvKTdCSuJE57N-LQyJbEJ1j84/s1600/DSC02011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCysNxc1y9jJ_mq9uVI04etW2okETlXBJKrhBz1DR3OcpOy6y1ZzCs6TyVCd_x2lwYmdbQZgQpW0DpwKD4OkBiJxbRls2en9l5EBYo1nbpXFkvK3udqKtvKTdCSuJE57N-LQyJbEJ1j84/s400/DSC02011.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">dragon rubbed shiny and smooth by the many fingers walking past. i hope they all received good luck. i rubbed extra hard. this was around a window frame.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">all right guys, i am having trouble loading my pics has taken me three hours to load two pics will try again this evening</span>lizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828771554192612.post-12943651620783901262009-11-30T07:39:00.003+08:002009-11-30T08:20:47.043+08:00ninth folder, ninth picture<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUftt1_xDeqaeDYgw-dPDiMZKJz48-wXj5YDZMdz4O7stZYm_KP557SUWcMukpoI67Q63LCUaY2efN2F69fWII3cRwCoyHDupFZQewgsbHmUdDQjyeCcX73X7chp6hpOZNATr57XH7To/s1600/DSC01164.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409684358207915890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUftt1_xDeqaeDYgw-dPDiMZKJz48-wXj5YDZMdz4O7stZYm_KP557SUWcMukpoI67Q63LCUaY2efN2F69fWII3cRwCoyHDupFZQewgsbHmUdDQjyeCcX73X7chp6hpOZNATr57XH7To/s400/DSC01164.JPG" /></a><br />someone asked me to do this. so i opened my pictures went to the ninth folder and then chose the ninth picture. this was taken on a trip to hong kong. we were riding on the open-top double decker bus. whoever would like to do this please join.lizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828771554192612.post-15767047324062421132009-11-28T18:29:00.004+08:002009-11-28T19:03:21.375+08:00chicken soup with rice<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwaYE_vNzT7CKAmZ4uwN5HpyIA8kS8TNwEQxz0VbQZQLyuX581QHh0SWThOg8FmQpcEuQeR94NdM3c1RttsodlcmBbOpR-KTWtuUa2N7sKbK8TKjBQ6v_ZdqIGMPDl18uy1QaQ2-thX_I/s1600/imagesCAAWGX4R.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 67px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 90px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409102536407215586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwaYE_vNzT7CKAmZ4uwN5HpyIA8kS8TNwEQxz0VbQZQLyuX581QHh0SWThOg8FmQpcEuQeR94NdM3c1RttsodlcmBbOpR-KTWtuUa2N7sKbK8TKjBQ6v_ZdqIGMPDl18uy1QaQ2-thX_I/s400/imagesCAAWGX4R.jpg" /></a> In April I will go away<br />To far off Spain or old Bombay<br />And dream about hot soup all day<br />Oh, my, oh, once, oh, my, oh, twice<br />Oh, my, oh, chicken soup with rice</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br /><br />let's talk a little about chicken soup. chicken soup is the supreme comfort food. it is the soup your mother brought you when you had a cold or were sick in your bed. you ate it with crackers and let the warm broth slide down your throat. it is the soup you ate when coming in from a days play in the cold weather. it melted all the icicles and warmed you from the inside out. it would warm your frosty fingers as you cradled the mug between your hands.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br /><br />today though when i am speaking of chicken soup i am speaking of the need to take a break. i am in need of a break. my children are in need of a break from me. when i sing carole king's chicken soup to my five year old all i can think of is the escape the song evokes. the escape from everyday problems and the saving grace of chicken soup to right all wrongs. a little chicken soup is much needed in our home today, with the power to heal and soothe and rather like calgon take you away.</div><br /><br /><object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bQMmmTK9ibw&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bQMmmTK9ibw&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object>lizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828771554192612.post-32200378677836976792009-11-27T19:41:00.002+08:002009-11-27T19:51:06.144+08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSTkGTWlvwOg_UlCN-VHqEAkPh8f0rJaqHtp4jkqwZvgdSCAEQod69D0mk6c8VZlThe8lbOmL8IciPH-YyP7m4Fr8vNrQLEkgxd3K6AlFB2DDVxwzAcLy3IcCvyEc9e7bZiOHy7_ofD8/s1600/1917-12-01-The-Country-Gentleman-Norman-Rockwell-cover-Cousin-Reginald-Catches-the-Thanksgiving-Turkey-no-logo-400-Digimarc-thumb-370x372.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 369px; height: 372px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSTkGTWlvwOg_UlCN-VHqEAkPh8f0rJaqHtp4jkqwZvgdSCAEQod69D0mk6c8VZlThe8lbOmL8IciPH-YyP7m4Fr8vNrQLEkgxd3K6AlFB2DDVxwzAcLy3IcCvyEc9e7bZiOHy7_ofD8/s400/1917-12-01-The-Country-Gentleman-Norman-Rockwell-cover-Cousin-Reginald-Catches-the-Thanksgiving-Turkey-no-logo-400-Digimarc-thumb-370x372.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408749422764968610" /></a><br />we are celebrating thanksgiving here on saturday. of all the holidays that i miss not being in the u.s. for, this is the one that is hardest for me. christmas was always about just my husband and kids. rarely did we travel or spend it anywhere else but at our own home and in our own way, so this really hasn't changed much. <br />thanksgiving on the other hand has always been about spending it with extended family. the brothers and sisters i grew up with and my parents. people getting their feelings hurt. teasing. burning the marshmallows on the sweet potatoes. i miss those things. i miss that my children don't get to complain about sitting at the kids table, or the thrill of finally not sitting at the kids table. football games and heralding in the christmas season by getting out the decorations and listening to christmas music. so as we try to make our own thanksgiving traditions tomorrow, think about what your traditions are. what are the things that you cherish about this holiday?lizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828771554192612.post-82198764563302258662009-11-26T19:49:00.004+08:002009-11-26T20:13:39.561+08:00quotes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtG0C4zS45GAPCME7LR7Nfsp2gloB2jWr5k7wvmm9oxY1V4x4QD1swqjWgEVDWKnU8tcLoNRVCWiiAv84231pwV9k769t7sRkDwv175O4NJRw2Uaq9XMCIkmA7EWC6wym4WuE1CVm_SUg/s1600/freedom_from_want.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtG0C4zS45GAPCME7LR7Nfsp2gloB2jWr5k7wvmm9oxY1V4x4QD1swqjWgEVDWKnU8tcLoNRVCWiiAv84231pwV9k769t7sRkDwv175O4NJRw2Uaq9XMCIkmA7EWC6wym4WuE1CVm_SUg/s400/freedom_from_want.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408384134334710354" /></a><br /><br /><br />The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!" -Henry Ward Beecherlizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828771554192612.post-88889120393174456562009-11-25T08:37:00.004+08:002009-11-25T09:16:44.825+08:00magical reindeer gems<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_6zl_AqriI-a3940VV8uj9AVyRKsZJcPRPc4V-wiSnmjBLbyqPAiXr4xhTVZpoMLhdJrsoJHzQ0qJ57l_8XnhYF26ZdsMpsFsZPRCUJ88eaNMuK3qin8x9-wnk17YrSqTztwMMaMTPg/s1600/reindeer_gems.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 230px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407843604116682194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_6zl_AqriI-a3940VV8uj9AVyRKsZJcPRPc4V-wiSnmjBLbyqPAiXr4xhTVZpoMLhdJrsoJHzQ0qJ57l_8XnhYF26ZdsMpsFsZPRCUJ88eaNMuK3qin8x9-wnk17YrSqTztwMMaMTPg/s400/reindeer_gems.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFYyREwpkJeLH2c1Efa8LzJ19pcinAN_OoGGxCSt4m5l_2DnQc_7LQOUAa7Dx4GHoCnFDmOSH6KYaVgWEvVZOO47yeLjjCNWvJEMIWRadCK-prlkQ9qwcQyGL3IAw7wfUTGcWgFJ0LxE/s1600/reindeer+dung.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 1px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 1px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407840941979527826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFYyREwpkJeLH2c1Efa8LzJ19pcinAN_OoGGxCSt4m5l_2DnQc_7LQOUAa7Dx4GHoCnFDmOSH6KYaVgWEvVZOO47yeLjjCNWvJEMIWRadCK-prlkQ9qwcQyGL3IAw7wfUTGcWgFJ0LxE/s320/reindeer+dung.bmp" /></a><br /><br /><div align="left">for a mere 20 dollars you could purchase that unique gift you are looking for. the gift that will put all others to shame. yes we are talking about the gift that is sure to be on everyone's list.</div><br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="color:#cc33cc;">limited edition</span><span style="color:#cc33cc;"></p></span><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#333399;"><strong>reindeer dung necklaces.</strong></span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#333399;"><strong></strong></span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">i know 20 dollars may seem steep so if you are on a budget you could opt for the $7.50 ornament instead. </span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">evidently there is a zoo in illinois that has the dung dehydrated and sterilized. wouldn't you like that to be on your resume? reindeer dung sterilizer. anyway, so they dehydrate, string them, add a little paint and glitter and presto, the world's most sought after christmas gift. do you give this to people you like? i do know people who have received "crap" for christmas only they didn't get any glitter with it. </span></div><br /><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><br /><div align="left">maybe i should buy a pet and go into business for myself. magical goldfish gem bracelets. guinea pig gem earrings. it could be a thriving enterprise. so if you are looking for that gift for the person who has everything, or maybe someone who loves to recycle this is the gift for you.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><br /><a href="http://www.cityblm.org/parks/Miller-Park-Zoo/gift-shop.htm">http://www.cityblm.org/parks/Miller-Park-Zoo/gift-shop.htm</a></div>lizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828771554192612.post-83167731261215311952009-11-24T15:51:00.007+08:002009-11-24T17:48:08.267+08:00celebration of communism<div align="center">in october china celebrated 60 years of communism. today i came across these fabulous photos of some of the celebrations. the chinese attention to detail strikes me. i also loved the human blocks of color. i don't have them pictured here but the military women who marched in the parade were wearing mini skirts and boots, well maybe midi, anyway my kind of military. enjoy<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 210px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407599435375063666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJNslfO63jOLhJ_XJDIp9kZEdZ57AxokJXbzS-2CzSrlpSKV6_A71M_nDm8wZtrdNX07CS6LIxSD_YTQDM3pr_2df0wUNwouu48DVCBtARRLt92GvSoCCmm3dFnAHyh_Z7IdIRAR4S8o/s320/c01_20572561.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 211px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407599456157210850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUj7fhmYZyfTo4LJY2aIIz73m-RfhyphenhyphenT5nWUlJN9cGRDBeUN1B9bQpkOSVbIftZYEFvUEnYQ0ZgBlcCX-8T8O-LlChGOkqIGf0zEm5oZm6bdSguqPjRfz194YMinxQV_JxVZzgiZSicC4/s320/c02_20571437.jpg" /> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 212px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407593741391233186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGj4iv_78TdzSuiFx1WUlremJmXvSSZCLatnqdX47KlXBHADnnNXN0ZGnenFvwVFEbT6Qck6twv4xXZnB85TI2JiozJT-0ZojvdXoW73I_3ml79VIj_djnd0F_K4wx4etJ2SuhP4NMWU/s320/c13_20571931.jpg" /> <p align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 211px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407599462167939938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlwNhI3YMUKcdn9LWxWR9u_7z9kUz8jdQAbyYUa4KpK40VSMnR675DdCFAu5AkQTIRTIjY9nBIbB7Wc_wNKsHl6YhPxlPsMjyaY52Llq3uL0jTIsH2YzZxvKC_oumtl0UAOGJoiNVpNU/s320/c36_20574569.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 209px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407599457423070146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJe6rGh4-FLir-B6CUEzZ-fLn6CG1eCjs2s1-qDg_676KuS-VuHOfm7FEEzwAV1-rtUZOJVq5jMnuF4y_9Lzv8r1idrVfAvFFxBZ3KwcPqfZ_W9W-ujfEZszF9bgHQwpgSiTlGMTuw6UQ/s320/c33_20573975.jpg" /><br /><br />viewing in a local mall<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 196px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407595211294042802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvhN0-h9uCuyg0SPWI2XkOMQ-21KHA4s-rweYoh6eKw2vmtTqaN1Ja9Cm5MWBoG_5QCqxF0eTqPyndFQqqLWXjYt50FHLCDlRDCA_aEI_n-auIRcx_06wEwrJdLO7fKmlPf8JT9hhhBw/s320/c37_20574695.jpg" /><br /><br />this is actually hong kong's victoria harbor<br /><br /><br /></p>lizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828771554192612.post-78384469363929588872009-11-23T12:47:00.005+08:002009-11-23T14:01:27.041+08:00life is so daily!<strong>productive morning:<br /><br /></strong>everyone out the door and off to <span style="color:#33ffff;">work</span> and<strong><span style="color:#330099;"> school</span></strong> by 8:40. <strong><span style="color:#6600cc;">xxx</span></strong> <span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong>ooo<br /></strong></span><br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;">chinese lesson</span></strong> with<em><strong> tina</strong></em> - she won't tell me her chinese name. she says it is too difficult.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#660000;">hot chocolate</span></strong> from starbucks. <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#330000;"><strong>hao hu!</strong></span></span> ( spelling?)<br /><br />shopping for<span style="color:#ffff00;"> <strong>presents</strong></span> ( hubby returning to the u.s. wednesday - without me. <span style="color:#336666;"><strong>boo hoo</strong></span>)<br /><br />deliver school <strong><span style="color:#009900;">lunches</span></strong>. <strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff9900;">hao chi! <br /></span></strong><br />return <strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#663300;">home<br /></span></strong><br />listen to<span style="font-size:130%;"> <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">pomplamoose</span></strong></span> while blogging.<br /><object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7jM2YwhaNCc&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7jM2YwhaNCc&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object><br /><br />hope the rest of the day goes well.lizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828771554192612.post-51240734785682017482009-11-22T14:11:00.002+08:002009-11-22T14:23:54.079+08:00quotes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgvoLE7spbuB4Mc4uQf1PlfnxBbVhp_t7Cd1i_Z-h7th0BgteT5H-PeEgNBzA1lpbeDe9iH_9BlJiefFIuZ_V0SF2VhPi-MlcdGHW8vpmP8DnteVfvtX-EYar-2nmEl3587PxDtPIrIg/s1600/authors.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 229px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406809732540197922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgvoLE7spbuB4Mc4uQf1PlfnxBbVhp_t7Cd1i_Z-h7th0BgteT5H-PeEgNBzA1lpbeDe9iH_9BlJiefFIuZ_V0SF2VhPi-MlcdGHW8vpmP8DnteVfvtX-EYar-2nmEl3587PxDtPIrIg/s400/authors.jpg" /></a><br /><div>"by taking down one of these volumes and opening it, one can call into range the voice of a man far distant in time and space, and hear him speaking to us, mind to mind, heart to heart."</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Gilbert Highet</div>lizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828771554192612.post-35725633020845130072009-11-21T12:39:00.006+08:002009-11-22T08:43:11.379+08:00<div> it is 12:40 and this is not where i should be spending my time. i have a confession to make -<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><strong>my house is a mess</strong> </div><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 294px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406720414874487202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0a0hinG94rQAY8DgWuttDd1qd3nN9MrmVpO5l4VzczlRqUuVs3g5Ypc42uUUUVI6sxKu6z8EFY_p8ELr4a3zpATY0ecmWGxe6XxSAe92AChI7uq3C1BGcgUUlJtweePXrtXb8VrmqXuA/s400/dirtyhouse.jpg" /><br /><span style="color:#000000;"></span><br />i know those of you who know me are saying: how can this be, she is so neat and tidy? doesn't she have a maid? What else does she have to do all day?<br /><br /><br /><br />the truth is my house at the moment looks like we had a monster truck rally here.<br /><br />the floors - yuck<br />the bathrooms - double yuck<br />the kitchen - ewww<br /><br />not to mention the unfolded laundry<br /><br /><br />i mean is it really that hard to keep some semblance of order? is it necessary for me to have to stay up till the wee hours of the morning in order to have a clean and shiny home? the truth is that this is the home my family deserves - the clean and shiny home.<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 322px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406720418359013522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_Rm39OXFEdnseAL2cII81UeYUGObaZl7j7J_JrlGgzRpLse22DTvkknbC66rdVLx3iEb4YF0v6QrUFtLvBi5b-zeWHKu5Yh0sZB0JNauiMRsbhFO29BgeU-nZAMVMoqsQQqWnwOQYlA/s400/wda0304l.jpg" /><br />so yes, it is sad but i must leave and attend to these pressing matters so i may enjoy my sunday and so you do not have to read the sad and pathetic post about how my family deserted me for cleaner pastures.lizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828771554192612.post-67257981170753809532009-11-20T09:21:00.009+08:002009-11-20T10:28:27.706+08:00brrrr!<div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div>number 2 son is settling into school at last. we have not had any tears upon departure this week, and when asked about his day, he says, "it was a little good" instead of the "horrid" response i usually get. this morning i was overjoyed to hear him singing a little chinese song as we got ready. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406006786267907074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD10u6c3IrdC05d1wI4deGSzbXp8lhm_wmhlarlSJk06mY1R-OV3uK5tET9RRFpOB2WO3Eh8oBnbTyFCzxJOMk7XU0M0Zd30oGhzd6rGymtJp9UyWl9nAmym95lPQYRC3l8SjdJrnwa-Q/s400/eskimo_woman_wearing_fur_coat_1915_card-p137412580926506539t5tq_400.jpg" /></div><div>it has been unusually cold here. last year i can remember the girls riding their christmas scooters with no jackets. it does get cold here in southern china, but not like the cold in the north of china where they are already experiencing power outages due to the cold, and there have been reported deaths from the snowfall a week ago. here it does get chilly but is semi tropical. when the temp dipped last week i turned on my heaters and broke out my sweaters. even today i am still bundled, with the predicted high of 67. i know it is pitiful. this of course is the reason i will be someday retiring to a place of tropical warmth. year round summer is my friend. </div><br /><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 260px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406004538093631570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6XSHWb0dmznhOhGVIOa16OZjyELELv12HB6CJw_1i1erQhH-um_RBzw2EDNh1GhYYkWMR3lB2D2Dx4QIX_E0tho_LaWc4YGORDFpLvrDNxMFluUi_EKNlye8BeakpAUI2MAD4-ivoKM/s400/snow_kids_lg.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><div>i always loved those first crisp autumn days. the sun would still be warm on your face but there was that wind blowing in your hair and making you pull your jacket a bit tighter, preparing you for the months to come. i have fond memories of cold and snow. my friends and i would have snowball races. we would push our snowballs around for days to see who could make the largest. they would grow so large, eventually we would need help to maneuver them. we would make what we called slidees. you scoot with your wellies until you have a long smooth slide in the snow and then of course you run and slide. i have lots of snow and cold weather memories. i fear now that i shall never again enjoy the cold. what a shame, because of course what comes with cold is HOT CHOCOLATE!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406005397588589314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXEDEUgQq4LC8MHHP26dmhojh5dlxpf1JzbuhRkgk2MKPF7D0EVV39Nga8_lcosXEi_jImLkC3KcSC9JKYXPj_f5fzvoPh_uzu0-DycJ34BFmO9Og4Z6ttCn6I6EO6mYtvIPkMCwkXAM/s400/hot-chocolate-su-1571510-l.jpg" /></div></div></div>lizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828771554192612.post-75088231059675640242009-11-19T10:03:00.005+08:002009-11-19T10:26:44.435+08:00in the news<div align="center"><strong>baby dies while doctor plays game online</strong></div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 386px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 294px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405631204292718386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUa10_PoqSNfj8VPj6HUfvamA-HXi9vaoW26nIJj34PVqYyUMuJC241AQMeVf6qCFVcHLg-ksP_GOBkHIPsCOQkvppKrUteAQV526WmYlcdNUKjjFR0xOPeOZd9SNuZrCOlNOGacOlwAI/s400/0013729e42ea0c66ed252d.jpg" /><br /><div>this 5 month old baby was admitted to the hospital with and eye infection. the infection led to swelling within the babies skull. the family had been told all was all right. after a few hours the baby boy died.</div><div></div><div>a few days before this 10 patients who were having laser eye procedures got infections because the opthalmic center used the same laser machine they had used to do experiments on animals.</div><div></div><div>there is a lot of negligence and malpractice in chinese hospitals. china has had over 10,000 lawsuits over medical disputes since 2002. healthcare reforms are being called for.</div><div></div><div>the u.s. healthcare system looks pretty good from where i sit.</div><div></div><div>i leave you with a cbs obama visits china video.</div><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/F-HyaF14dUk&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/F-HyaF14dUk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />many of these souveniers have now been banned. i am not sure if it is out of respect for obama or mao.lizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828771554192612.post-27593137865821421342009-11-17T09:55:00.002+08:002009-11-17T09:58:27.408+08:00i am so tired! i stayed up last night ordering all my u.s. christmas presents and things my hubby will try to stuff into his suitcase from his brief trip to the u.s. in about 10 days. i sat down to write a post and i was actually sitting here asleep. so i am off to nap. something more exciting later.lizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828771554192612.post-2800499252237096852009-11-16T11:50:00.003+08:002009-11-16T12:48:08.819+08:00favorite quotes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWwyxoH0YI4izA3eSxwp_k8St_bMyM00cyI-9avyZSwUerBKOkFiesCHz503u90yPuxQO8_uC45QznYhb4b5hNNN1Tb1jtt_mLA2NmRsn4pORFIDTf0QDrW1TqCCWajTMp3hN3lJ9dBg/s1600/su-blackwell-book-cut-sculpture.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 330px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404556480893432930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWwyxoH0YI4izA3eSxwp_k8St_bMyM00cyI-9avyZSwUerBKOkFiesCHz503u90yPuxQO8_uC45QznYhb4b5hNNN1Tb1jtt_mLA2NmRsn4pORFIDTf0QDrW1TqCCWajTMp3hN3lJ9dBg/s400/su-blackwell-book-cut-sculpture.jpg" /></a><br />“ Words, once they are printed, have a life of their own."<br /><br />Carol Burnett<br /><br />i like this quote. i think i have written before about how much i love words. it is indeed sad to me that i am not the master of words. i am a terrible writer but i truly appreciate the way others can put them together. i wonder though what carol burnett was speaking of. was it something that she said, or another. i smell a scandal.lizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828771554192612.post-61620682784781242402009-11-14T11:49:00.003+08:002009-11-14T12:33:08.551+08:00work day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pcIVC4JnnaYneBnw58n_X6KiwhOCS08PgFr8kgRx-e6ma4Dyj_yfa_jkhj_kqBLS7xw1VPovs2WZo3kxpLQyWeeeEOKqJsJQPDUPaOSffOIzkwhyphenhyphenc5_4HLOenrcxbi8LnKQ0vXGfrrI/s1600-h/the-song-of-the-lark-1884-jules-adolphe-breton-10221.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 310px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403811392698440114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pcIVC4JnnaYneBnw58n_X6KiwhOCS08PgFr8kgRx-e6ma4Dyj_yfa_jkhj_kqBLS7xw1VPovs2WZo3kxpLQyWeeeEOKqJsJQPDUPaOSffOIzkwhyphenhyphenc5_4HLOenrcxbi8LnKQ0vXGfrrI/s400/the-song-of-the-lark-1884-jules-adolphe-breton-10221.jpg" /></a><br /><div>my children slept in today, those who do. it is saturday and i think everyone should be entitled to an extra hour of sleep on a saturday. i can remember my dad marching through the house on a saturday morning, flinging open bedroom doors with the loud refrain "get up, it's a work day."<br /><br />of course this was met with moans and groans. i have to say though that these work days are some of my best memories. i remember, having recently moved to the country, cleaning out the barn and clearing the lot. a lot of hard work but also a lot of family fun. i used to climb onto the tractor and shred the pasture, for me this was a prime chore as my imagination would have the time to dream as the tall grass fell behind us. i recall saturdays painting the house, and washing the windows with vinegar and newspaper.<br /><br />my children i fear live a charmed life of endless computer games and very few chores. today is a work day. a thing they are not used to and something that to them is akin to child abuse. this announcement is met with me being told that no one else's mother makes them work. their ayi makes their bed for them. i am undeterred. some day maybe they will have fond memories of working as a family toward a common goal. striving to contribute to the group, valuing a job well done, and maybe they will have their own work days with their families. </div>lizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828771554192612.post-72096141430988434682009-11-13T10:53:00.002+08:002009-11-13T11:28:23.504+08:00paraskevidekatriaphobia<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5ZbLuZrpBqN1gNIYqN0O6fhBDgRBQLHdSYnQdPVBtQmgjv1cWXcCgW4v2OIny7r1nF31-gtkK-9pKZNOeiKnMbuhluHyb-2VkKWvuRtLliuMBWs871AbQ74gu49htXI_VjhW4MdAs3E/s1600-h/GhastlyAByEdwardGorey.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 343px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403424687758897746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5ZbLuZrpBqN1gNIYqN0O6fhBDgRBQLHdSYnQdPVBtQmgjv1cWXcCgW4v2OIny7r1nF31-gtkK-9pKZNOeiKnMbuhluHyb-2VkKWvuRtLliuMBWs871AbQ74gu49htXI_VjhW4MdAs3E/s400/GhastlyAByEdwardGorey.gif" /></a><br /><div>today is friday the 13th. i suppose that means that i am just going to have a stinky day and i should just accept this. i have read that friday the 13th is actually one of the safest days. fewer accidents are reported on this day because i suppose the world is full of superstitious people who either in fear do not venture out or are just extra careful. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>in honor of the day here are a few friday the 13th myths:</div><br /><div></div><br /><ul><br /><li>a child born on this day will be unlucky for life but their lucky day will be friday the 13th</li><br /><li>if you cut your hair on this day someone in your family will die.</li><br /><li>if a funeral passes you on friday the 13th you will be the next to die.</li><br /><li>bad luck will befall you if a black cat crosses your path.</li></ul><br /><p align="left">so for today friends, beware. try not to crash your car, or fall down the stairs. please don't light yourself on fire or walk under any ladders. </p><br /><p align="left"><strong>what superstitions do you have if any?</strong></p><br /><p></p>lizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828771554192612.post-26427883871063779482009-11-12T09:33:00.003+08:002009-11-12T09:56:01.359+08:00favorite quotes and art<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBI0w30CWnpMoirGcmhu4nWnsOe4Iigirun3WEwzI9m5RvKZrKZJjStaXNsE6x_-2PMiaC88X9ub64VGDNbmvlExRxbpdMTfTihxJsdarDB387lYEQAqEwGBCk5RFmD6vHv3e16me1Xk/s1600-h/Maxfield_Parrish_Ectasy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 265px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403028814548499042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBI0w30CWnpMoirGcmhu4nWnsOe4Iigirun3WEwzI9m5RvKZrKZJjStaXNsE6x_-2PMiaC88X9ub64VGDNbmvlExRxbpdMTfTihxJsdarDB387lYEQAqEwGBCk5RFmD6vHv3e16me1Xk/s400/Maxfield_Parrish_Ectasy.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>"And forget not that the earth delights</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong> to feel your </strong></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>bare feet and the </strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>winds long to play with your hair."</strong></span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center">Kahlil Gibran</div>lizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828771554192612.post-1162101140266366472009-11-11T09:02:00.004+08:002009-11-11T09:42:58.138+08:00cutting the cord<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkdE7pPUbyhedbL8b6zel5JDnh5gM5HGXGZeKwnDAJbdLY1Drapy0YtZjhJdak7pwUPKKqDhLnexLHyDOUsdVXEQmHibAkX7S6tvuxoyYBgJATo4vSKN0YwX6iS2YR67I6IF9zBcfs64/s1600-h/Peter_detail.png"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 328px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402653806999391714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkdE7pPUbyhedbL8b6zel5JDnh5gM5HGXGZeKwnDAJbdLY1Drapy0YtZjhJdak7pwUPKKqDhLnexLHyDOUsdVXEQmHibAkX7S6tvuxoyYBgJATo4vSKN0YwX6iS2YR67I6IF9zBcfs64/s400/Peter_detail.png" /></a><br /><div align="left">number 2 son started school in september. we made the decision to put him in chinese school, since he misses the start date for american kindergarten. we were very excited about him being able to learn the language and to speak it fluently. i cannot tell you what a stress this has added to our lives. every night he asks if tomorrow is a school day. there are tears and pleadings. one evening he came in while i was cooking dinner and said he must speak to me alone. he told me how he hated school and didn't want to go back. he rides the bus in the morning, with four of his friends from the neighborhood. the bus attendant usually has to carry him away crying and then he watches me out the window for as long as he can. i have visited the school and dropped in unannounced and the teachers are loving and patient. i wonder how long it will be before he is comfortable. in between the lines i pull out snips of happiness. new songs learned, playing ball with new friends, reading circle. i think most of this comes from him being my last child. he is the only one that has had my sole attention, as the others were all in school. so days of having his mom all to himself have not served him well, and lets face it, he is my baby. after his first days of school the teacher sent home a progress report for the week. this is what it said: </div><br /><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><br /><div align="center">Parrish, you are not stable in the mornings. you cry because you miss your mom.</div><div align="center">you are a good boy and we all like you very much</div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="left">i thought this very sweet. i hope soon he will adjust. my friend whose daughters go to the same school are in their second year. the first year they weren't always so thrilled to be there but now are quite happy. lets hope it doesn't take us a year.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div>lizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828771554192612.post-35943399548170014792009-11-09T18:31:00.004+08:002009-11-09T19:09:03.901+08:00christmas in november<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgmF3RjV_-WAuWxivZV9sHus1SPRK_lO1Tey8sY84kJ1ktvXKKFJQ1aERpFxy9wskJvvvLN__hxOZ9AzcEFRjmrorxk_3TOsEwSihlhFVN_Njn_BLt65iMGzMI7EbTImopoc3KoHcB_A/s1600-h/DSC_0146.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 133px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402058793341593906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgmF3RjV_-WAuWxivZV9sHus1SPRK_lO1Tey8sY84kJ1ktvXKKFJQ1aERpFxy9wskJvvvLN__hxOZ9AzcEFRjmrorxk_3TOsEwSihlhFVN_Njn_BLt65iMGzMI7EbTImopoc3KoHcB_A/s200/DSC_0146.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-family:courier new;">today i spent with my girls. we drug all the christmas decorations out and started to cut out snowflakes. for the last three years we have been cutting out snowflakes and adorning our air-conditioned windows with snowflakes. we absolutely love them. our collection grows and grows. g is still holding out for real snow. i have promised her that one day i will take her to real snow. who knows when that will be. next christmas i was hoping for a trip, maybe australia. definitely not a snow location. my neighbor is throwing up her arms in disgust as her daughter is now pressing for their christmas decorations. i know, i know, thanksgiving is first. for some reason though christmas is just calling to me. so i thought i would share a bit of the bug with you.<br /></span><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402057895519514050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsjdVN6gstvcKvlxEEhQhh89Zkpw16lDPcU3WQkcvUklEaSneAFpeDZdiXbjmmZ-lASPqzL0FBS-Eh_VQRuuIuGJQMdwq35DdWHAv8lqIBJfpzM1WN3gSCykYO1vvP4fDF8_pTYitjUU/s320/snowflake_tree.jpg" />lizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828771554192612.post-11395254780107040302009-11-08T21:17:00.000+08:002009-11-08T21:38:31.563+08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjak4u3nVD84YzjoCToeil6CL1XCnbYIWASeIflWNKMOF5Y75aabD1IJb8Qckux1RAqfg8yP4qShza0yYq9gXNo_4iao3B_vLFYPEpGxgGrFR0JHhcJ3hRHHFSbLqrzMIAi-ETNR5j2OJE/s1600-h/china001.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401726323303958770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjak4u3nVD84YzjoCToeil6CL1XCnbYIWASeIflWNKMOF5Y75aabD1IJb8Qckux1RAqfg8yP4qShza0yYq9gXNo_4iao3B_vLFYPEpGxgGrFR0JHhcJ3hRHHFSbLqrzMIAi-ETNR5j2OJE/s400/china001.jpg" /></a><br /><div>today i just wanted to share this amazing photo i found. this is china. isn't it amazing?</div>lizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828771554192612.post-10652773739265260652009-11-07T10:41:00.002+08:002009-11-07T11:52:54.080+08:00appearances<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBox9t9tB3Ol4cU2CpEy4L-fvvOWoKoBhhZiZvmyvHghmfCfRG8m7Pl1JbPJzIPdYAqa0Xil1CIPxmhQ3I7O9Y6EocTKEyix4MNyopltl50Z1-o5IPrg1A1Zx5ZF_ZJZmGKi3ExIqst90/s1600-h/court+ladies+-+tang+dynasty.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401204617539105250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBox9t9tB3Ol4cU2CpEy4L-fvvOWoKoBhhZiZvmyvHghmfCfRG8m7Pl1JbPJzIPdYAqa0Xil1CIPxmhQ3I7O9Y6EocTKEyix4MNyopltl50Z1-o5IPrg1A1Zx5ZF_ZJZmGKi3ExIqst90/s400/court+ladies+-+tang+dynasty.bmp" /></a><br /><div>There is an interesting dialogue in my mandarin lesson book. it is entitled:</div><br /><div></div><br /><div align="center">di shi liu ke ren kao ye shuang</div><br /><div align="center">you are what you wear.</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left">It is a conversation between a western woman and a Chinese woman. the Chinese woman is saying that she has discovered that western women don't usually wear make up unless going out, because they don't work here and stay at home and look after kids so there is no need. </div><br /><div align="left">Western women dress casually, so when they go out they look like a different person. at these comments the western woman responds in surprise, could these statements be true? Surely she should mend her ways.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">In contrast the dialogue goes on to talk about how Chinese women wear light makeup during the day so they look more vigorous. They always dress nicely and wear lots of lipstick because lipstick looks beautiful. When they do dress to go out they look fantastic and amazing.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Wow, i am feeling quite inadequate and frumpy after this. It is amazing how different cultures look at issues. in Brazil and Venezuela (especially Venezuela, where every women you pass is dressed to kill and utterly gorgeous) there was a lot of emphasis on looks and the women worked out, were constantly getting manicures, having hair appointments, surgical enhancements. Now here in Asia you can see some of the same issues. I found it funny when we went to Japan Disney that there were all these men and women walking around in suits and dresses with high heels. Not that i am opposed, because lets face it even an old barn looks better with a coat of paint. I just hate the judgement sounding part of it, because I have met amazing women from all over the world. the truth is we as women have so much more to offer than appearance. Everyone should strive to look good. Let's just not go to the the extreme with it and remember who we are should not be defined by how we look. Perfection will always be just out of reach.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">information of the painting above: Zhou Fang's "Hue Shan Shi Nv Tu" ( court ladies wielding fans) represents the beauty of the women of the Tang Dynasty.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Just so you know I do not discount the cultural histories that have brought women of different cultures to where they are today.</div><br /><div align="left"></div>lizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828771554192612.post-5884751877481921072009-11-06T08:59:00.005+08:002009-11-06T09:16:07.672+08:00<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 114px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400792560440524258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwl1qUUaJiCugx9WVCegUbluVYf_uIP9rx36W5-1gmdd9ITbl2duWmWwiJWqavKmg0V8bjXSL8xC-Xy0L4j_jcE8HdS9Z6zLSsUdS5tksbfEM4DH5R8FS9pFvPEKD3HDHCJG6QwA-LSYU/s400/overturned-nest.jpg" /><br /><p>chinese saying - </p><p>under an overturned nest, can there be unbroken eggs?</p><p> </p><p>i am off to mandarin lessons. wish me luck, i need it.</p>lizzy-loohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01526503083217298544noreply@blogger.com2