december to Christmas

These two shots are reflecting th diversity here...hutongs...are being destroyed with the donkeys ,looking like semis, carting away the bricks to be used to build another wall that will surround another project...the project is the cctv building...the most expensive in the world...it is leaning, both parts, and they are joined at the top...awesome looking building ...supposed to be complete for the Olympics...I'll believe it...seems like there is a lot of work yet...the other one if I can get it on is from our trip to the softball games at Fengtai Stadium

Christmas in Beijing.....not this year.....Fred and Reg both are staying....Fred alone and Reg's wife and daughter will be coming over....both ends of the spectrum....last year I spent Christmas eve on a bus with strangers coming back from a ski hill near Beijing...this year back in Canada...last year in Shanghai on New Years...this year ...who knows...

Had an interesting "incident" at the Russian Market last weekend...went there with the two other amigos and had to park our bikes....the first guy wanted 5 rmb for them and we said no way,,and left...went around the corner and parked our bikes with no one there..as we were walking into the market an old man with a slight limp came up to us asking for money to park...we finally decide to pay someone even though we thought it was a little bit high....we went in and did our shopping ...came out an headed for the bikes...we were met by a man with a P on his hat...and he was asking for money for the bike parking..he was legit....the other guy who I saw and went to get was just a scam artist...found him and headed back with the guy I thought trailing...when I get there...he somehow has escaped ....little bugger ..went back and asked where did he go...a handful of Chinese said "where did he go"...guess he has done this before...so we were taken for about 80 cents....said to Reg if I found the little bugger he would have had two permanent limps...we just laughed and chalked it up to experience.....I guess you pay when you leave....

Went to a bar on SanLutin....belly dance...of sorts....singer...of sorts...not much for entertainment..but had a glimpse of some sort of bar with local entertainment,,,

Going to play Santa this year for two sessions...Friday morning and Monday morning...kids get their pictures with Santa..wooohoooo...I guess I will be the thin Santa...

Have my hockey bag packed with stuff to go home.....and it is stuffed....it weighs as much as a hockey bag and more....and there is no hockey equipment in it...purses, jackets, some jewelery, presents....books, even some clothes..imagine that...will be leaving at 12;00 on Thursday...have decided to get a Rider tattoo if I can while I am at home...sort of balance out my ball glove on the other arm...Henry and I and a few others are going to a CBA basketball game on Sunday...quite a ways from the school..involves a taxi and the subway and another taxi...so should be interesting ..just getting there...

Have been feeling tired lately..Jennifer said I even looked that way...lots of people are fighting a bad flu that knocks you down...maybe I am just too ornery to get knocked down...but I get up again they're never gonna keep me down .....I get knocked.....some sort of song there...should be pissing the night away...

Had a great day...received a package from home...Janet/Tony sent me a care package...I am eating some licorice right now...KD...lots of puddings...some freshie...cooked ham....more candy...some lemon meringue pudding....thank you ..thank you..... . thank you

Also....got an invitation to the school owner's son's wedding on Sunday...not many teachers were invited...I got a personal invitation from Francis so I guess I am one of the few...principal, vp, 4 or 5 others....not sure why...maybe my three wheeler....will be a very big thing.... maybe Tux time,..... whaddya think

Am going to be Santa tomorrow from 8:30 until 10:30... up in my three wheeler...just to show how Santa gets around in China....

Didn't...thought that might not be appropriate.. but will get my picture on one

Well I was at the wedding and this was not your typical wedding here in Beijing... knew something had to be different when you pulled up in the bus and the Rolls Royce dealership was in the bottom floor.... amazing.. I can see how the other .1% lives... the hotel was incredible..the waiting areas were immense and lavish to say the least... but you know what ..little ole guy form gopher gulch Sask acquitted himself quite well..you would have been proud of me...lots of wine...food of unknown origin and procedures that were foreign to me but we had fun at our table as we always do... I hope to include at least one picture from the festivities...young bucks can't p with the big dogs... didn't even know what to give to the bride and groom..gave them some wheat weaving from Sask......they will not have that from anyone ELSE... THAT IS FOR SURE... you can BET on that....interesting some of the things that they did.. they even hired the director from the Beijing TV network to shoot the wedding... choreographed entrance etc...lots of stuff on photo...I can't imagine how much it cost to do this wedding...live jazz band...not your normal run of the mill type...great singer....easy to see how you can get caught in all the hype and easily become a victim of the lifestyle....I am

Am Santa again from 8:30 until 10:30 again...it is ok.. got the owner of the school the first time around....and one of the big cheeses...to sit with Santa...coup

Having a YANKEE swap for Christmas giving where you lose or gain a different present each round of giving.. should be fun.... I was thinking of giving some Smirnoff Twisted ..own private stock but will opt for something Beijing

Next week at this time I will be home....and tattooed (I made an appointment at Psycho city to have a Rider decal put on my left arm)..and mellowed out...

Merry Christmas to everyone...and have a HAPPY NEW YEAR.....

I WILL....see you in 2008 or 2009 or ...whenever

Enjoy life...it is all that we have