Kirst Afloat

3:55 am

It's 3:55 am and both of my children are WIDE awake.  Ahhh...the joys of jetlag.

Our trip back to the US was the best ever.  We were on the direct Continental flight from HK to Newark.  Great crew.  James even slept for 5 or 6 hours (after being awake for the first 8 or 9).  We had a two hour layover in Newark and then flew to Atlanta.  Spent the night near the airport.  Kids went to sleep around 11.  James rolled out of bed at 3 and was restless for about an hour.  He slept until 6:30.  Claire rolled around the bed from 3:30 onwards and then puked all over the place at 4-ish.  Too much chocolate cake at dinner...Damn, that vomit fairy seems to find us no matter where in the world we are!

Claire and James are enjoying being back in the "brown wood house".  James has stopped saying that he wants to "go home to Hong Kong".  I'll be happier when I can actually sleep when it's dark.  I seem to be getting the least amount of sleep of anyone.

Later today we're meeting my mom at Vogel State Park.  If I'm more awake, perhaps I'll pull the windows and rear window off of my Jeep.  Don't think I'll be up to lowering the soft top, but who knows?  My brother is also in town (very briefly) to accompany his daughter back to Boston.  Syd's been at my mom's for the last two weeks (it's the gap between the end of school and the beginning of camp).  She & Claire saw each other when we drove into town the other day.  My mom & Kathy were working outside their second store which we passed on our way to our house.  We stopped and caught up for awhile.  Claire and Sydney were able to play with their Webkinz on my mom's computer.  Which was good as I can't log Claire in here---our connection is pretty slow.  We're upgrading our satellite connection (some things suck about being up in the mountains) and hopefully we'll gain some speed.

I'm going to finish the book I'm reading (Charm City by Laura Lippman) and then try to convince both kids to have a nap.  Not sure how successful that will be...

Winding down

Only two more days of school for Claire and James...and I feel like I have tons to do and remember.  We leave on Tuesday for the US---the kids and I will be there for two months.  I have a lot to wrap up here as well as certain items to purchase for the US.  And I need to figure out what exactly I need to buy in the US to bring back here.   (I really should inventory our OTC meds---especially the children's stuff.  No Tylenol here, for example.  Aagh!  It seems never ending...

It's now Sunday.  The kids are through with school which is a huge relief.  James will be going until 1:30 each day next year which helps a bit.  The school only let the parents know two weeks before the end of the year that they are moving James' campus to Ap Lei Chau from Wan Chai.  Big nightmare for us especially as we already drive from Clearwater Bay each day.  Of course, at this late date, there is no option to change schools.  I've started the applications for HKIS although it will most likely be two years before there are places for both kids.

I spent yesterday going through all of the toys on the boat.  We have SO many.  Way too MANY!  The good thing is that a lot of the toys are for younger children.  CB, the assistant marina manager, is adopting a baby boy this month.  He's about 9 months now, I believe.  I have a big pile of toys set aside for him as well as a second pile for the brand new son of a friend of Lily's (she works in our office).  All of our remaining toys are neatly organized in the cabinets or in labeled plastic bins in the storage room in the "basement".  (The bottom floor of our boat consists of the engine room, workshop/storage and a smaller storage room in the bow.   It feels good to finally have everything organized.  It was like Christmas here yesterday---James and Claire rediscovered a bunch of toys that they haven't seen in ages.  Perfect activity as it was pissing down rain yet again.

We leave for Georgia on Tuesday (on the Continental flight to Newark and then on to Atlanta).  We'll also be in Florida (at our place on Longboat Key), Boston, Virginia, and Pebble Beach this summer.  Must begin the packing process today---especially the kids' carry on bags.