My step-daughter, Cathy, ran the Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday. It was her first. She finished in under 5 hours (her goal) and did a great job. We are so proud of her!!! She says she can't wait to run her next one in 2009.
December 6th is the day my Children's Lit course is over. And while I'm enjoying the course a lot, I'm also looking forward to having more time/sleep. Not too much longer!
Claire's rehearsals are ramping up. She has an additional one tonight so, once again, she'll miss her Faust class. Three weeks in a row! (She was the sick the first week, but had extra rehearsals on the last two Tuesdays.) Trying to get to class, leave early from class, get some kind of dinner in her stomach and rush to rehearsal is just TOO nuts. Last week, I brought both kids home and fed them dinner. Then Claire and I left around 5 to head back into the city. Lots of driving for only 75 minutes at home before turning back around again, but it was worth it. Claire had some time to play outside, did her Chinese and ate dinner. James was able to stay home with Mariz and play. And he was also able to get to bed at a reasonable time.
I have a final project that must be in draft form by Sunday...and not much time at home to accomplish this!
On Thursday, I had my hair cut for the first time in Hong Kong in almost a year. I've had many terrible hair cutting experiences in this city---it's tough to find someone who can cut curly hair properly. The last stylist that I liked moved to India after last Christmas.
The stylist I tried is from Australia. Rennae has beautiful long curly hair herself. I quite liked her and she did a good job. I think. I was completely fed up with the fringe/bangs I had grown out. They were completely out of control---dry, frizzy, nasty. I wanted Rennae to chop the whole lot off. She refused. Instead she cut it into chunks that get longer. And she gave me specific directions on how to style my hair.
It was seriously curly when I left the salon. I had a different manicurist that day at The Feel Good Factor. At one point she asked me where I was from. I replied, "From the US." She then said, "Really? But your hair is so curly!" WTF is that supposed to mean?
When I picked up Claire, she said she almost didn't recognize me. And she kept looking at me funny. James didn't notice anything different. Neither has Tom up to this point.
Not sure how much I like the new style mainly because I haven't quite figured out how to deal with the pieces framing my face. I'm supposed to use leave-in conditioner (which I always do) and then use wax. Then twist the pieces and let them dry. I'm failing on that part thus far. Put too much wax on yesterday morning and looked like Eriq La Salle in Coming to America with hair full of Soul Glow. Ha! If you watch the first part of this, you'll see what I mean. (My hair wasn't quite that bad, thank god.)
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Saturday night, I managed to use the right amount of wax and defused my hair--it looked really nice.
Yesterday, when walking to my gym in Central, the woman who I buy People Magazine from each week said, "You hair looks very sexy today. I noticed it when you were walking towards me." Not sure if this is a good thing! Ha!
I was thinking about this yesterday and decided that the new most important words to getting by in any country are "No problem" and "Thanks". With these two words in a local language, you can generate positive interactions. I might argue that the next two most important are "Yes" and a greeting of some sort.
From a former student (who has a special place in my heart...I taught her in my third grade class, summer math & science camp, and in my fifth grade class in Florida) who I located on Facebook:
Ms Rendell,
I think that your friend request has been the BEST one ever. I have never forgot you and all the kind things you have done and said to me. You are one of the reasons why I want to become a teacher. If I can make at least half of a difference in someone's life as you have done for me it will be worth it. Hope all is well for you and thank you again for the friend request. With all my Love, Samantha P.
I was teary after reading this. Thank you, Samantha!
I was very proud of myself on Tuesday. Claire was home sick and I promised James that I would try my best to pick him up from school in Ap Lei Chau. Only problem was, once I neared Causeway Bay on the Eastern Corridor, the Cross Harbour Tunnel was packed up. A lot. The sign said 38 minutes. This is a problem because to get to the Aberdeen Tunnel you're stuck in the approach to the Cross Harbour Tunnel until you get to the turning for Happy Valley. Ai-ya!!!
Central was also backed up AND the exit to go off of Wan Chai North/Harbour Rd (and then drive near Claire's campus and get to the Aberdeen Tunnel) was backed up to the highway. I decided to get off on Wan Chai North and then circle back the other way on the Corridor. I then exited at North Point/King's Rd and decided to try my luck finding the Happy Valley exit that way. Brass ones. I used to be VERY freaked out about driving blind in Hong Kong. Since I'm more familiar with driving on Hong Kong side (I would NEVER try this on Kowloon side near TST), I just dealt. And I made it to the Happy Valley exit while by-passing the Cross Harbour Tunnel traffic AND I was a few minutes early to Ap Lei Chau. Yes!
Poor Claire is still unwell. And weepy. Very weepy. She finished her antibiotics (Zithromax) on Monday but reported that her ear still hurt. She was still very tired, and she did not want to go to soccer (which is unusual). The kids didn't have school that day due to Parent/Teacher Conferences, and Claire was tired.
Yesterday morning (Tuesday), Claire got up and ready for school. Because her ear still hurt (although less than last week), I decided to take her straight to the doctor before school. The plan was to get James on his bus and then zip to Repulse Bay. Wrong! So much traffic in Clearwater Bay for an unknown reason. (Usually it's that way when it rains...but yesterday was beautiful. The only thing I can think is that people drove because it was "cold"---about 17 degrees Celsius/63 F.) Then the Eastern Corridor was all backed up on the lanes heading towards Central. Turns out a double decker bus had broken down. James missed his bus as a result. I made the executive decision to bring both children with me to the doctor's office. We didn't have to wait long. Claire's ear is still red inside and her eardrum is still bulging. Must be a lot of fluid behind it. And she also has her first sinus infection. So now it's 7 days of Augmentin, one of the most foul tasting liquid antibiotics ever! We've had major melt downs over this. 2 doses down, 12 to go. I also did the math and the nurse did NOT give me enough of the medicine. Aagh! 8 ml x 2 doses daily x 7 days = 112 ml. 3 bottles of 35 ml each =105 ml. Somebody's math is not up to snuff. Will have to make another trip back to Repulse Bay. Grrrr....
Kids were in bed early last night, by about 7:30. I think we all fell asleep by 8 or so. I was also exhausted. Woke up at 3:30...it's now 4:07. Heading back to my bed!
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