Hey We Made It!

The above post refers to 2 things. One: we made the papers! Online, anyway. Sure, they spelled my (Chinese) name wrong and failed to mention everyone else in the article, but HEY we got our picture online!
Two: 'Nols, Eileen, Tin (Palawan), Wendy and I hiked our butts off last Sunday at Xi Shui Hu, about 3 hours outside of Beijing. Nothing like small groups to make things more manageable. Got good pics out of it, too.

Not Quite as Hot as You-Know-Where, but Close

Day 2 of Beijing heatwave. Never experienced it before, not that I wanted to. It's 7:30 PM but outside it feels like the inside of a bathroom after a 30-minute shower. Hot summer night is right.

Photo Finish

As a unique way to kill the afternoon, I, along with Manol, Elaine, Jella and Joanne decided to catch the Olympic torch relay by Wudaokou. Amidst the blistering heat (hell, even my feet were burning) and lots of shoving as the really-short-lady with the torched passed by, I managed to get a perfect shot of her. At least I hope it's perfect. At the last minuted I was pushed so I'm not sure how the picture will come out. Still, some good stuff happened. A reporter for BeijingNews.com saw us with our Philippine flag and interviewed us. If nothing else comes out right I pray we at least make the 6 o'clock online news.

Bye, Ronnie.

Ronald Reagan died today at the age of 94. I first knew of him as President of the US. The "surprising" discoveries came later. He used to be governor of California? He was an actor? He's the oldest president voted into office? He was almost assassinated? He has Alzheimer's? My generation grew up during his 2 terms.Okay, so he wasn't the best president (hell, who was), but he was certainly one of the most popular.

So ANYway...

I'm still in Beijing. May stay here for the summer (as well as the rest of the year). Studying and teahing, studying and teaching. Very routine. If only I can add "went out with bevy of ladies" in that routine. Sigh.

Got a PC. By "got" I mean "borrowed" from my Chinese friend Sunny's flatmate. The PC came from the animation office he used to work for. When the office closed the PC had nowhere to go and just lay here in their appartment. Having no scruples whatsoever I borrowed it. Bought a CD writer, speakers, and had ADSL installed in my room a week later. Whee. And you think I slept late before...

My sister's have given birth. I miss my nieces and nephew like the dickens. Aunt came to Beijing last week and brought stuff in from Manila, thankfully. Lily's Peanut Butter. Ovaltine. My shorts, sandals and slippers. It almost feels like home again.