Getting ready to head out East tomorrow, a whole bunch of things left to do!
I’ll be back Thursday, but my daughter will be staying out with my parents and my sisters a while longer. We’ll go grab her back around the end of the month, as school here doesn’t start until September 3rd.
We’re still not heading back into the classroom, going to wait until the last possible moment for that. Once I step foot in there to do a piece of work, well, then as far as I’m concerned, vacation is done. 
But for now, I am reeeeeely looking forward to sitting on my parents’ deck with a glass of wine, reading a good book, as the breeze blows through the woods….it’s just bliss for a city girl like me. 
And being with my sisters is a blast, we wind up playing cards with the bigger children til the wee hours… UNO, Phase10, you name it.
Was going to bring the laptop out with me but have decided against it - the rest of the girls at the Brand have everything well under control, it’s the beauty of having multiple ownership as we do. “Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno” as they say ~ and thanks for the vacation my dear friends! 
So all my folks have out there is an ancient I-Book which I believe is still powered by a hamster and a wheel. So I’ll let my nieces and nephews fight over that. I’m going to stay out on that deck with my stack of books and have myself some R&R.
See ya when I get back!
Today’s thought:
“For travel to be delightful, one must have a good place to leave and return to.”
– Frederick B. Wilcox
And I’ve got both.
It’s been a busy week, taking care of those appointments that I should’ve taken care of months ago. So I do feel pretty accomplished knowing that 3/4 of that stuff is done for this year.
I made a stop at school yesterday to drop off some supplies - and boy, I really don’t feel like heading back in there - yet! Looks like we’ll have 30 this year, which is fine because we can keep the configuration of the room the way we like. Anything above 32 we have to do a wholesale change. But looking around, there are tons of supplies to put away - that will wait til I get back from vacation, maybe one night I’ll go in with my partner, we’ll order some Chinese food and get to work.
Did you know that many people will be getting married on 8-8-08? 8 is the number of prosperity in the Chinese culture, and many traditionalists have chosen that day to get married. The Beijing Olympics will start on the 8th, in fact, at 8:08 PM. So superstitions run deep!
We heard from our son today, he is in the town of Sudzhou for three days. He finally figured out how to use his cellphone, which is a relief. He was telling us about his classes, where he goes on field studies and meets with the Shanghaiese people to ask questions. They have done alot of walking and talking! I can’t believe that the program is half done tomorrow.
Dinner is in the oven, and hubby, daughter and I will have a nice meal in a bit. I picked up a very nice cabernet - love the full bodied red, no matter what the season. Looking forward to sitting with a glass and talking about the day with everyone.
Today’s thought:
“The envious die not once, but as oft as the envied win applause.” ~Baltasar Gracian
Well, I spoke to my parents last night out in Montauk, and they said that the pervading thought out there is that the so-called “Monster” is but a turtle who somehow escaped its shell. Don’t know if I’m buying that, but if the locals are, well, that’s something. But then again, they are paying close to 5 dollars a gallon for gas too at the moment. The price to pay for having the ‘beautiful people’ descend upon their hamlet. Oh well. Alot has changed out there in the 40 years I’ve been visiting there, that’s for sure.
Watched Yankees Old Timers Day yesterday. I have a problem with 40 year olds being ‘Old Timers.’ Tino Martinez? David Wells? Nah, those aren’t old timers. Whitey Ford, Tom Troesch, Yogi Berra…..those are the guys. But I guess since the ranks of the true old timers has dwindled, they have no choice but to dig deeper in the rosters of years past. But again, even guys like Dave Winfield, he wasn’t always a Yankee. Wade Boggs too. Boggs to me was always a Red Sox. The old guys bled pinstripes. Oh well, a different world I guess. But I was happy to see that Willie Randolph got such a great reception from the fans. New York fans get it, always have and always will. And yes, until he left to manage the Mets in 2005, Randolph was a Yankee. Came through the farm system and played every game as a Yankee. That’s a true Yankee Old Timer.
Oh and Sneddy, I found another take on your quote of a few days ago - with a 21st century spin:
“Imitation is the sincerest form of copyright infringement.”
Today’s thought: If you are ashamed to stand by your colors, you had better seek another flag. ~Author Unknown
Man, where did my summer vacation go? Seems like it had just started and poof! It’s almost done!
We’ve been hearing from our son in Shanghai, he’s having one hell of a good time. He is totally immersing himself in the culture, interacting with the locals on The Bund and trying all different types of Chinese cuisine. The classes, well, those are probably his least favorite things to deal with! But they are busy from the crack of dawn to close to midnight. He was planning on going to a music store on his ‘off’ day, he wants to bring home a chinese cymbal for his drumset. I can’t wait to get this week’s newsletter to see what they’ve been up to! He is enjoying using his mandarin, and when we speak with him it’s funny, his inflections are much more tonal(the way you speak the Chinese language) than they were before he left!
But they too are feeling the crackdown of the Chinese government in preparation for the Olympics - he was stopped the other day and asked to empty his pockets by a Shanghai Police Officer. He started to resist, but the Teaching Assistant with them told him to comply. It was difficult for him to understand that the laws of the Chinese are so different than ours. But it’s their right I guess, as they are guests in their country.
And now for something completely different…
The “Montauk Monster” Fact or fiction?
This carcass washed up on the beach in Montauk NY this past week. No one can determine just what it is - turtle, dog, whatever?? Or, is it an experiment gone bad from Plum Island, which is an experimental lab not too far from Montauk? Inquiring minds want to know. Me, I think it’s a dead rotweiller. I’ll find out more when I get out there next weekend - the local papers are sure to have plenty written about it!
Other ramblings on this rainy Saturday:
“To know that you do not know is the best. To pretend to know when you do not know is a disease.” ~ Lao-Tsu
Happy to report that our son has arrived in Shanghai, and is having a great time. He emailed us when he arrived, and he called us this morning - 6:30 in the morning! But it was Sunday 6:30pm his time, having just finished dinner. He’s been trying some of the local delicacies, like spicy fried eel…not my cup of tea! But that’s the beauty of him going at such a young age - you do things that maybe 20 years later, you wouldn’t! His classes have started, he has made friends with boys and girls from all over the globe, and sounds so happy. If he had gone a year ago, with a steady girlfriend at home, I don’t think he would’ve embraced it the way he is now……what a difference a year makes when it comes to so many things!
So hubby, daughter and I are getting used to it being just the three of us. We’ve been to the mall, the movies, and today Staples - she always likes to get a jump on her school supplies, believe it or not!
In other things, the Brand has been hopping with activity. We had our ‘Meet and Greet’ chat yesterday and the room was packed from 1PM to 11PM - it was amazing! We are so fortunate to have such a diverse and friendly membership, it is truly a lot of fun to be with all of them.
Jo unveiled our latest innovative, exclusive and original feature - Writer Blogs! Authors can use them any way they would like - post stories, comments, WIP, whatever - they can be as creative as they choose to be! And the best thing is that they are all linked to one place where people can find them. Our library will stay intact, and has been growing by leaps and bounds - and we’re not done yet! I am constantly amazed at the level of creativity all of us bring to the table - and with the addition(or shall I say return) of two of our former Brandsters, it should only get better!
Spent the weekend getting things together for my son’s trip - you don’t realize how much there is to do!
He’s playing his last Highlander game tonight for the season - he’ll be patrolling second base for the last time until he has Varsity tryouts - which will be the end of August. His buddies are taking him out afterward for a little bon voyage celebration, which is so nice of them!
My daughter is on hiatus from basketball -the AAU season has ended, camp has ended and now she’s starting all the work assigned over the summer. I’ve told her that if it’s not done, then there is no trip out to Montauk! So she’s putting her nose to the grindstone and getting it all done. It is amazing just how much work is assigned these days - not just the old ‘read three books’ anymore! Now there are science reports, math books, you name it!
When we get back to school, she’ll start prepping for the High School entry exam in November, and my son has been seeing his SAT tutor since June. I can’t believe that both of our children are graduating next June…..where did the time go?
Nothing much else to say when you’re imitated, but to say ‘thanks’ for the compliment!
Marie, you are on the money….my son will be leaving for Shanghai a week from tomorrow! 
We’ve been busy getting things together, including gifts for the families he will be visiting during their homestay excursions during the month he’s away. They say to bring things that reflect where you come from - so we bought some NY Knick Tees(Basketball is BIG there) and some NYC prints. I hope that they will enjoy them. We’ll start packing the suitcase this weekend!
As for mom’s mental state, it varies from one minute to the next. I know I will be crying when we say goodbye on Thursday at LaGuardia (the flight originates there and they change planes in Atlanta - Hi Indy!) at 3:30 in the morning! But then I keep telling myself it is the trip of a lifetime and probably, if he continues with his Mandarin Study, not the last time he will be there!
This weekend is going to be busy, as we have parties on Friday and Saturday - my sister has a block party on Saturday - I haven’t been to one in over 20 years! It should be a lot of fun and I’m sure the kids will enjoy themselves as they get a taste of a true city experience!
I want to shout out a big HELLO to our newest members at the Brand - our International Forums are as busy as ever with the arrival of our new friends. We’re having alot of fun already!
Day 2 of my summer vacation and I feel myself slowly starting to unwind. I’ve been able to get so much done I’ve surprised myself!
All those calls that needed to be made, things that needed to be ordered, paperwork that needed to be organized…..it’s getting done. And the more that gets done, the better I feel.
Libby, I saw Macca walking with the ex-Mrs. in Amagansett( one of the towns in the Hamptons), early one morning when we were driving back to the city. His hair was so reddish, I felt like yelling out the window “Paul, please go gray!!! It isn’t so bad!!” You know I don’t think gray is so bad, after all, I am a fan of the “Ingally” look!
Indy, I’m sure you saw alot of vendors by your hotel - after all, you were in Times Square! Back on the ‘knockoff’ rant from last week, I have to say that one of the funniest sites to witness is when these guys have to pack up shop faster than lightning when they see the police appear! You’ve never seen people move so fast!
A beautiful day here, the humidity is gone - think I’ll head out and start weeding those long overdue beds……
I was in NYC this week to see a play. I belong to this group where you can get great tickets on Broadway for $35….which is dirt cheap! We saw “A Catered Affair” which starred Faith Prince, Harvey Fierstein(who wrote it), and Tom Wopat. It was a wonderful, intriguing show - made you laugh, made you cry. Quite enjoyable from the second row!
Anyhow, as hubby and I were walking amongst the throngs of tourists(the weak dollar makes it very enticing to visit the US these days) we couldn’t get over all the vendors lining the streets, selling virtually the same things. I cringe at the thought of an unsuspecting tourist thinking they are getting a bargain. As with most things, they should realize the original is always the best thing!
Maybe if I were the handbag designer, watch manufacturer, etc., I’d be flattered for about a minute that someone thought my unique idea was good enough to copy. But I’d also be a bit ticked that someone was stealing my idea. But I guess that’s the way of the world these days….people are too darn lazy to do their own thing. Or, they don’t have a creative bone in their body! LOL
School is out, vacation has started - and now with a son who drives himself, it makes things easier. We’re getting ready for his upcoming trip to China next month - alot to get together! I think it will be the trip of a lifetime for him, and considering he can read, write and speak the language, it will be quite an experience!
Bun, loved your Macca entry…..I loved him too around that time and couldn’t agree more that he was at his hottest back then! I saw him walking with the ex about three years ago in the Hamptons, and man, she had him trying to turn back the clock - not a pretty sight! I say, let a man age gracefully, they still look pretty damn good!
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