Some days just stink

I don't know why Nanchang has this effect on me, maybe it is more the weather or the lack of things to do, or the lack of community I sometimes feel here, but some days in this city just stink. Its not like anything bad happened or anything, but today is just one of those days. I'm tired, I don't want to do much of anything (well that's not true, but i don't want to go to the trouble to do it) and its raining for the 4th straight day so we all feel trapped inside. I had dinner last night with some foreigners and it was so lacking that friendship flare... the laughs, the giggles, the planning to do something fun on the next nice day... None of the things I complain about really matter in the grand scheme of things. I am well aware of that, so why do I let these things get under my skin. Why can't I just be content and happy despite it all? I was thinking today what I might do if I were in America and were feeling like this... well, maybe go to Target and just walk around or head up to the aquarium. Maybe I would just go to Micky D's and let the kids play on the playground and drink a cup of coffee. I could do something here but that would mean trudging out in the rain, walking a great distance, catching a bus or taxi, walking again through a sea of people yelling "foreigner, or Barbie Doll" as we try to get to our place of interest. I don't know that it would be much different, but in my mind I would be able to do something other than this... the good news is that now it is time for school. Gracie and I will work through language and reading, Bible and Math and then play a game, do a project, read a story and finish our study of cells. This will definitely change my mood... my Gracie is a smart cookie and I always love teaching her. Hopefully tomorrow the rain will subside and we can go outside. Let the cloud of gloom float away.

Too many bones

So my friend has been making me dishes this week and sending them via her mom or sister in law who live in my neighborhood. She is an awesome cook and since we are helping her son study for special test she has been lavishing us with good eats. Today she sent several dishes at lunchtime. Fish was on the menu - it smelled so good and I couldn't wait to eat some. The problem is always that Chinese people cuts things so crazy. They wak away no considering where the bones are or where they will go. IN fish this just means there are bones in every bite. For the Chinese this is no problem, they learn early how to move the fish around in their mouths and spit the bones out... even very small ones. This makes eating fish for me too much of a chore, and because i don't have this skill I usually end up swallowing a bone - not fun. I usually do not eat fish for this reason, unless it is cooked whole and I can pick it off the bone myself. Unfortunately, today the fish was in a bunch of pieces and even though I diligently picked through every piece I still ended up with bones in my mouth and one in my throat. I stood over the trash can gagging myself, coughing, etc until I finally got it out, but after that ordeal hungry momma didn't even want to eat. I didn't want to be with anyone. So, I'm venting and starving and hoping that there will be some food left when I get my whits together and go to the table.
I wish the CHinese would learn to fillet fish.... they sure know how to cook it.

Bad Day

I woke up this morning in pain. My neck hurt because our pillows are lousy and my back hurt because I pulled it out last night picking up Gracie. We haven't slept good in this house for over a month thanks to Lola Mei who can't seem to get it.... Stay in your own bed! Anyway, it was not a good way to wake up.

After waking to Matt groaning in the bathroom because of something he ate yesterday, I went in to two very chipper kiddos who wanted nothing more than to love on me. That was nice : ) But then I had CHinese class which I loathe right now... and before I knew it it was time to eat lunch. Fan Zi Mei put these ridiculously hot peppers in the eggplant so noone could eat it... that stunk. Lola ate a little and Gracie did too and then Gracie and I packed it up for our first swimming lesson.

Gracie of course thinks she rules the roost so she #1 took her Leapster after I told her no #2 Pitched a fit to take the stroller and wouldn't get out of it even though I told her we had to go the bank - a 2 mile hike - so we didn't have time to walk. #3 I went back up for the electric bike keys only to return and find GRacie on the playground #4 She decided she didn't care if she went to swimming lessons #5 She changed her mind but refused to return the Leapster upstairs, so I tild her she was going to loss it if she didn't take responsibility for it.... so she decided to "loss it" #6 I decided I didn't like her attitude and drug her upstairs for time-out. And NO we did not go to swimming lessons.

After a 25 minutes scream fest and time-out Gracie had to clean her room because she messed it up while in time out. Then she decided to act like a human child again and all seemed well. Then Lola got up after only an hour nap. Matt was about to leave the house and I was ready to fall out - not to mention my daily headache that had already decided to visit. Thankfully, I have a very sweet husband who stayed home and watched the kids and let me nap. I got up with a better attitude - me and the girls transplanted our squash, broccoli and tomatoes, then cleaned up the mess. I scrounged up something for dinner since we didn't have enough to really make a meal and while we were eating GRacie decided she needed to have alook out the window. Of course she all the kids outside playing (they all go to daycare during the day so she doesn't have anyone to play with). She said they were missing her so I promised to take her out after she ate all her beans. Snarf - gone. Out we went. Lola peed in the grass - good girl! They chased and rode bikes and made me tired and sweaty then we came in and washed up again. Lola went to bed : ) Gracie argued with her Dad about staying in her room. Then Matt went to bed at 8 and I got Grace down, took a shower and am now irritated that I can't check my email because the server is down : ( I guess though, now that I have written it all out - it wasn't such a bad day after all.