Hallowe'en 2007 et al

Well here it is again...another October 31...we had an exciting time with all the kids rotating through the rooms ..just like at home....the high school kids ran stations for the kids to go through...bobbing for apples, egg race, scary tunnels...

Lots of stuff before that....the Thanksgiving dinner was a hoot again...didn't win any prizes but there were several freebies in the packages anyway....our table won 3 so I guess it was good luck ...wore my Tux again...fun...and guess what..no one else would probably be able to tell this ...I was volunteering as some of you know...as a helper for the get together...well..I take may Tux there and just before I have to start my time at the desk and get dressed I find out I have left my pants at home....I had set them out for the maid to press and she put them on a separate hanger......so I brought the vest and jacket but no pants...some phone calls back to the school and they arrived about 1/2 hour before all the people were there....we laughted a lot....then the other fellow who was working with me forgot his socks......what a bunch....

Have entered the Boston Marathon for April 21...have to start training in February....winter ..during the pollution season...should be ok though...the owner of the school has said he will sponsor me there but don't know what that means....he has said that I will be on leave with pay....hope to leave about 5 days before and 2 days after...now am looking forward to it...

Exam results go out tomorrow and parent teacher interviews next Thursday and Friday...just like in Canada.....will be watched by the Principal next Monday so have to prepare a lesson plan and try to make a good impression so they don't send me home..

Have had a dance lesson with the physed classes...line dance..am working up to holding hands....we will see if it happens...still waiting for a lot of supplies as well as some books for Math....will order some on my own and then get reimbursed..

Got all the golf clubs ordered and will start sending them home this weekend....hope to get several to go Saturday...19 or 20 sets to go...wow...hope I can get it done soon...I also have some other stuff to buy and then send home....

Beginning to like the lifestyle here.....how can you not...we can take a taxi and go anywhere and fairly inexpensively...lots of things to do and see...the staff at the school are good to deal with...Fred Savoy and Reg Bonnel and I (the three Amigos or the 3 musty steers)...we like to go out to some of the restaurants together...haven't been able to find my 3 wheeler yet...maybe next weekend

Have been keeping up with the Riders and the Huskies...hope we do well in the playoffs...will be watching from my Slingbox...thanks Mark....

Janet has finally had her Skype installed and have been able to talk to her whenever....neat to do that...will be doing it more...a student has the same cell phone as I so he is going to give me a lesson on how to do a lot of the things that I have no clue about...so be prepared for some real cool stuff coming back now....but I am a slow learner...

Took Fred and Reg out to Maggies...a girl bar..we all enjoyed the scenery....but left early....Fred said his heart couldn't stand it ...we all laughed.....we had eaten at the Indian kitchen...funny thing happened...all three of us got into the elevator at the apartment and were talking away for about 3 minutes before we realized we hadn't pressed the button to go anywhere....we laughed about that one for a while..then took a cab and couldn't get to the right Indian kitchen..the cabbie took us to the Indian restaurant...about 3 blocks away...another laughable moment.

Did a very China thing today 11 06...pollution was so bad I went out and bought a mask...it was that bad...could hardly see across the road ...maybe furthest 1/2 km.....and the particulates from all the construction make it even worse....Fred was going to get one too but he has a special kind that he wants......designer masks....no just kidding

Had a poppy but misplaced it and was wondering if the embassy has any...will find out as it is more relevant over here I think....for expats......

Had my observation by the principal here...all went well....I guess they will let me stay....also will be coming home for Christmas....Jan....you will have to edit this out if you send it to MOM...leave here on the 20th and get home on the 21st..hoping Jennifer and Mark can have Christmas together.....but if not so be it...

Not sure if I said this before but we have sold our house in Chaplin...Bruce Olson, a former student made us an offer and we accepted...with mixed emotions.....lots of memories...surely did not get all the money out of it that we put inot it but it served us well ....sort of makes a break with the past...now I am really of no fixed address....

Huskies are out...Riders?????next weekend....fingers crossed...which team will show up.....Detroit doing ok....am still trying for first goal in Beijing.....had some good chances too...we are on a 3 game losing streak...oh well having fun....will stop hockey once I start training for the marathon..don't want to jeopardize the chance...enough

Posting away