Not much to say. No word on my luggage today. I was going to use a friend's computer and call United for free (vs Skype which would cost $ and require me to remember my headset) but there are password issues. So tomorrow... Went back to Jusco again. For 25 yuan ($3-4) I got 3 amazing sushi for lunch, a large steamed bread cake thing, 3 things of ramen, 3 large bags of dried fruit (for lunch tomorrow and the next 2 days with the ramen), and bottled water. I love this country!! Here are a few more pics. My first meal in Hong Kong was Krispy Kreme. And my first beer in Zhuhai. I have more pics on my camera of the hotel's signs and the war memorial park I went to this afternoon. Hope ... read more

This will be short and sweet. Or so I say... Perhaps "to the point" is more accurate. I made it. But my luggage has not. The United guy in the Phoenix airport kept yelling "Thai Food!!" which I coulnd't figure out how that would lead to a flight delay. Food? Thailand? Ohhhhhh, TYPHOON. That would explain a 19 hour delay. And my need to get a very expensive hotel room. With 2 new friends in the same situation. We even had a doorman and the room had a fluffy bathrobe! And why I, "might want to pick up my bag in San Fran." "Might" does NOT imply that you will only check it thru to San Fran. And that I need to pick it. Or else. At least to me it doesn't. No, it implies that ... read more

Not much to report. I slept, I ate, I made many, many phone calls and got a lot of last minute things done. Whew. I still have to pack though. details... On a bright note, I am extremely excited because I finally figured out how to do one thing: type in Chinese in any program. Like email. Or google. 这个。 My nerdy self is going to go and study my flash cards some more. And then maybe I'll sleep early. Big day ahead of me tomorrow! (not to mention more Olympics!!) ... read more

For once, I am feeling unverbose. If that's a word. Spell check says, "no," but I say to heck with that. I'll probably use this opportunity to post way too many pictures of sunsets, walking tours, and my favorite: lightning (taken tonight). My arrival in Phoenix was hot. Shocking, I know. First I was warm. Then I felt like all my nose hairs had been singed off and it burned to breath. Then I wondered why anyone in their right mind would pay a fortune to live there year-round. I have a new-found appreciation for humidity. Prescott is like Eau Claire, WI (where I graduated college) in that it's bigger than smaller, smaller than big, things are still reasonably priced and everyone is nice. Genuinely nice. Not Minnesota Nice (which I still think is a crock ... read more

I can't believe I'm here, at this point. After months of planning and dreaming, it's really happening. And I'm so excited and nervous and stressed I think I'm going to explode into a million pieces while doing a happy dance. The Big and Exciting News of the Day: I turned in my 2 weeks notice at work!!!!! I am so excited I can hardly stand it. Oh, how I dreamed of this moment for years.... ahhh. At first my boss didn't believe me. Then he did. Then he smiled and congratulated me. And asked about what I was going to be doing. Then we told my team lead and left him speechless--and he's never without something to say. I have shopped myself silly buying deodorant and tampons. And clothes and gear for traveling around next summer. ... read more