Awesome Clip of the Week

Why oh why do we not have someone who will stand up and say this to President Obama AND Congress?

Quick Random Notes

*We are at the Best Western in Yiwu. Incidentally-- it is neither Western NOR the Best.

*It is extremely cold here....which I'm not really complaining about. Amazing how much less fragrant a place can be in the cold. (It was insanely hot and humid when we were here last Sept.)

*I accidentally wore my shirt inside out when we crossed the border from Hong Kong into mainland China (we actually walked across it with our suitcases). I feel this only bolstered my "we look like refugees fleeing persecution in Hong Kong" point to my coworkers.

*I don't care how proficient a spitter you may or may not be-- you have not truly seen (or HEARD) spitting until you have been to China.

*The iTunes store (or at least MY iTunes store) does not work in mainland China. This is very annoying when you want to download the season finale of Burn Notice to watch on the plane.

*In case you hadn't figured it out-- I have nothing that interesting to post at the moment......

Is My Maid Trying To Tell Me Something?

I am once again back at the JW Marriott in Hong Kong. And while I know you are ALL excited to hear my twice a year update on the status of the bacon on their breakfast buffet... I am sad to report that blog feature has been discontinued due to unfortunate and newly developed food allergies.

HOWEVER-- that does not mean that I don't have exciting news to report. (and possibly even MORE riveting than a bacon update would have been....but I make no promises......)

My first post was GOING to be movie reviews of the bajllion movies I either started to watch and/or actually finished on the flights over. And while I still plan to get to that eventually....there has been a new development that I feel deserves a priority entry.

We spent a long day today walking around the city to various appointments.....thankfully able to dodge the POURING rain due to Hong Kong's lovely system of covered walk ways. I finally got back to the hotel a little bit ago.....tired and ready to flop. Everyone else in my group is on the 22nd floor.....but I am all alone on the 12th floor. I didn't think too much about that, but as I walked into my room tonight...I began to suspect I am on some sort of special party-girl floor. Why is this, you ask? Well, first let me explain that as you walk into my room....you enter a short hallway and you have to go around a little curve to get into the bedroom. As I opened my front door tonight-- I noticed a thump of base playing.....and I wondered if I'd forgotten to turn my TV off this morning. But as I walked into the bedroom, I realized that the maid had been in to "turn down the bed" for the night...but let me tell you, she went the extra mile. My lights were turned down to dim, the bed covers were turned down, and.....someone was rapping/singing on the stereo system about all of the "sweet honeys in the club tonight" and his need for me to "shake it baby, shake it". I went over to the stereo and realized that the maid had decided that LL Cool J was just the fellow to sing me to sleep tonight (and in case you were working the theory that the maid was listening to her OWN CD and forgot to take it out...nope. The CD actually has "property of the JW Marriott" imprinted on the front of it)

Let me tell you-- I don't know who they think was coming back to this room tonight--- but I really don't feel worthy of the ambiance she worked to create. I feel like I need to put on some tight pants and make some sort of martini or something. My grand plan of reading Jane Austen in the bathtub just doesn't feel right.....



P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSIE!!! (even though you don't read this. Maybe you dad will and he'll tell your I said it......

Delayed in Tokyo. Bored. Really, really bored. Updates that have been promised have not come.

The Flattering Lighting of Incredible Pizza

Meredith (my niece--for the 2 of you that don't already know that) and I spent the afternoon at Incredible Pizza yesterday. If you are unfamiliar with the establishment (and before yesterday, I'd never been there)-- basically it seems to be an all you can eat pizza extravaganza combined with go-karts, putt-putt, bumper cars, arcade games, etc. Meredith and I skipped the food and went straight to the games. Our first stop was the go-kart line where we wanted to sign up for a "double" ride (meaning I would drive while Meredith was the passenger/navigator/encourager)--- Anyway, it was there that the following conversation was had:


Me: (addressing the teenager working the register) "Hi...we'd like to sign up for a double ride."

Meredith: (smiles and waves at him like she has been smiling and waving at everyone since we got there...)

Incredible Pizza Dude: (looks a bit confused): "You're going to ride with her?" (points at Meredith)

Me: (returns his confused look) "Uh, yeah...." (also throws in a nod in case some body language is needed as well)

Meredith: (still smiling)

Incredible Pizza Dude: (frowns slightly) "How OLD are you?"

Me: (starting to look around to make I'm not too old to be riding go-carts-- but am reassured when I notice old dudes currently racing) "Uh..." (then blank for a minute and try to remember if I am 31 or 32).... "31! I'm 31!"

Meredith: (waiting patiently, still smiling)

Incredible Pizza Dude: (loses the confused look and replaces it with a startled one) "Really?"

Me: "Uh, yes."

Incredible Pizza Dude: "I would NOT have thought that. I was thinking like...22 at MOST."

Me: (speechless and still not a little confused about why it matters)

Meredith: (smile turns reassuring-- pats my thigh) "That's a GOOD thing, Aunt Sarah!"

Me: (starting to appreciate the dark lighting of Incredible Pizza) "I know, sweetie." (turns to Incredible Pizza Dude) "Uhm, thanks I guess?"

Slightly Blind Incredible Pizza Dude: (smiles and "scans" my payment card)


Our scene now cuts to 10 minutes later when I look at the balance of our payment card and realize he hadn't charged us for the ride....we go back over to tell him....



Me: (waiting for weird 50 year old lady to stop going on and on to poor Incredible Pizza Dude about how there better not be any kids in the "fast" go-kart race because she drives FAST-- FAST!! and she will not be thwarted by some kid who is out there piddling around not knowing what he's doing)

Incredible Pizza Dude: (kindly waits for the woman to walk off before he starts laughing at her)

Me: "Hi! Us again! I just noticed that it didn't subtract the money for the go-karts when you scanned our card."

Incredible Pizza Dude: (looking at me with a look that says "annnnddd????)

Me: (feeling a bit awkward) "Well, I just wanted to let you know."

Incredible Pizza Dude: (smiles and cocks an eyebrow) "Well, that's a GOOD thing, right?"

Me: (not really sure if a 19 year old is flirting with me or not) "Uh, yeah....."

Incredible Pizza Dude: (smiles) "Well, good!"

Me: "Alrighty, then. Uhm...thanks!"

Meredith: (looks at me and shrugs)



As we were leaving later, I was telling Meredith that I still couldn't figure out WHY he cared how old I was-- when she pointed out that he was probably checking to make sure I was old enough to take her on a double ride (apparently you have to be 18...I failed to notice that). I have no idea if her theory is accurate, but I have decided to go with it....as 18 is even better than 22!

(also? Meredith and I TOTALLY won our go-kart race....in case you wondered)