Summer Vacation '09, Part One

After a long & arduous school year we returned state side for six weeks of R&R. As this is being written we are about half way through what has been a very busy & somewhat taxing summer vacation. Still it has been good in so many other ways.

On the 14th of June we took the Shekou ferry to the Hong Kong International Airport. Even with the concern of swine flu the trip to the airport was so smooth. On the way we traveled in with a couple of teacher friends & made our good-byes once we arrived to the terminal. The 12 plus hours of travel as smooth as can be with one passenger talking our ear off about his guru. We were saved by the dinner that served & ended conversation, a one way conversation. I shut my eyes after dinner to practice my own form of yoga, even though it was not very comfortable.

June 14 - 20 - We arrived in SF and went to stay with Eileen’s sister, Terri, in Modesto. We had a good time with her daughter’s Natalie (11) and Megan (9). We took Megan to FunWorks for her birthday and then we all went to Chucky Cheese for a school fundraiser.…needless to say, our ears are still ringing.

We then spent a couple of days in San Jose with Eileen's other sister & father. We use their address as our home of record & all our mail ends up there. We touch bases with that side of the family then flew to Indiana & visited old friends in the area.

In the Midwest we drove a lot to see friends & extended family in Ohio as well as in Indiana. I can say that it was a good place to come from as the economy has made life there hard. Thankfully, everyone back there is still employed. Most of our time was spent with the Krum family & played w/ our god-daughter. She is talking & walking, cute & very articulate for someone under 3. I also had my health checkup & got a clean bill of health. That was a major relief due to my condition.

Then it was down to Southern California to visit the Andersons & my dad. At the Andersons we caught up with their newest family members (two one year olds) & then took off for my dad’s place. There we went shopping for computer equipment & hooked up the slingbox so we can watch American TV in China, we hope. Also, we loaded up on some clothes.

Now were back up to Northern California to finish out our vacation.