Friday, March 15, 2013

Palindrome days


Our plans for Saturday were blown apart by the wind.  We had planned to go out and about, indoors due to smog.  However the wind was blowing so strongly that garbage was flying past the 18th floor on our walk up the stairs.  After the stairwell my eyes and nose itched with dust blowing in through  the cracks in the windows.  
Sunday we road a double decker bus.  Fun, the boys got to sit up front for a few stops before we got off at the end of the line and walked to Aunt & Uncle's house for lunch.  
Monday my mother-in-law took me shopping.   She took me a very complicated way involving several bus transfers that I'll never remember.  I know an easier way to get to the other side of the Chairman East/West gate shopping streets.  Prices are marked, so this is a place I can take my mom all by myself.  I got golden oranges on a stick instead of my favorite haw on a stick.  Yum!  I got 2 more coats.  So the coat I just got came in two colors, I opted for the teal, since I have a lot of orangish coats.   My mother-in-law said the blue is an old person color.  Thank goodness that color only came in 4x & 5x.  My usual 2X was too small in the arms, so I tried the 3X in the teal and perfect fit.  She still wanted me to get the orange and told me to get the 4X., solely to get the orange color.  What?   I don't think it's a color but style that makes it for old or young.   So far that is 3 coats this trip.  There are just so many cute coats!  I really can't buy too any more.  Maybe another spring one?
It's not fair that my size 9, perfectly normal in the US is LL of sumer shoes(toes sticks off the front, heals off the back) only in Japan, and 250 in China.  There are a few sizes bigger than 250, but good luck trying to find them and not in many styles.  But at least I can find some closed toe shoes here.
Tuesday was our first rain.  They've been preparing the ground for spring by watering the shrubs.  I can see tiny buds on the trees.  Spring is just around the corner.  
We were back to square one on Monday with Aidan and school.  I was told he cried on and off all day.  Today he was a big boy and walked his weepy self in.  Wensen is a sweetheart and is giving kisses.  He got very embarrassed when I asked who he is kissing.  Ethan must be bored, he is leaving the classroom,  going out into the hall and the teacher doesn't know where he is.  Yesterday he turned on all the bathroom faucets and left them on.  I was surprised how loving the teachers are here, or maybe it's our school.  They kiss and hug the children.  For rewards they blow loud kisses to the kids.  Huh.
Everyday one of my in-laws accompanies me to pick up my children.  And everyday they think they should be the first face my child should see.  Hello mother here!  But my mother-in-law thinks it's the teacher's fault they are not watching the kids.  She says my kids think for themselves.  That made me feel better.
Every day, twice a day it's a struggle to brush Wensen's teeth.  I told him, "If you can't brush your teeth, I will brush your teeth for you"  In my head popped, If you can't afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you, guess I watch to many cop TV shows.   I was telling the Michigan teacher how he hates brushing.  He says most of his kids have black stumps in their mouth, because the thought it why brush, baby teeth will fall out anyway.  Poor kids.
        I think it's funny seeing old people wear young people clothes.  It must be because they get the clothes cheap, so they wear it.  I saw an older lady wearing a coat that looked like a strapless dress, fleshy colored on top and scallop bottom.  Weird.  And I saw a whole bunch of lensless fashion glasses at the store.  Debating if I want one.
   My mother-in-law and I went to lunch and I was so thirsty, so I ordered the lemon tea.  It was hot water with lemon in.  We asked where the tea was, that is the tea.  What a rip off.  Ended up burning my tongue on it.  The big lump sugar didn't help sooth it, like regular granuals will when put on immediately.  Later that afternoon, I was sucking on a carmel and poof,  away went my burnt tongue!
More on shopping, my mother-in-law thinks it's a good buy if they mark it down.  Example coat  went from 600rmb to 400 rmb, good buy.  But a coat for 350 rmb not on sale, not a good buy.  Totally not on if you like it or if it's less, only about what is on sale.  Huh?  Sometimes I pick something out and she tells me no, it's for old people.  My husband knows this about me, he tells me to look around, if there are old people looking at the same rack(there always are), then walk away.  
I am looking for some character kid plates, she wanted me to by these plain plates, because they were cheap.  No thank you.  I've been that route before, buy something because it's cheap, then I still go buy the thing I actually want and ended up spending more.  
I finally took my friend Carmen's advise and watched "Sherlock" the British drama series.  It's season is 3 shows of 1.5hrs.  I'm hooked, it's hilarious.  Course could be because I must have a British sense of humor, I always love those shows, like "Keeping Up Appearances", "Mr. Bean",  and "Are You Being Served".


                                                              Golden orange on a stick

                                                            Chairman's gate shopping street

   
                                                                                     Inside a mall
                                            Cool cow

                      The Monkey king



                     Bronner's Beijing?   No, just the outside.



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