Food Coma

I've just got to get it out there. I have no pics of Thanksgiving. We celebrated big time yesterday (china doesn't give off for thanksgiving duh). I had to work and me being really clear minded in the morning got up late and straight ran out the house to catch the bus. Yea I take the bus in Shanghai, and WHAT. I got it like that. So I left my camera at home and the bottle of wine I was planning to bring with me. The meal was fantastic. Just..so much glorious turkey, and ham, and sweet potatoes with almonds and string beans with fried onions and biscuits, and and, oh yea before all that there were carrots and hummus and cheese and crackers, oh manz, it was a good day for me yesterday. What else was there, ahh can't forget about the lasagna, yes lasagna, both meat and veggie, and of course all turkey was accompanied by gravy (uncle roy, you were not to be outdone) but it was mmmmm gooooooooooooooddd. I think I ate for seriously, like 2 hours straight. I'm not sure if people were trying to talk to me or what, but I went hard son, no lie. I don't eat a lot of sweets but I put those down too. M&M cookies and chocolate chip cookies and tall-house bars and cookies with shiny things on them and cake.  Oh yea, there were people at the party. Many of whom I've met before but lots of new people also. All great and nice and super intelligent. In total I'd say the party had at least 4o people there. It was really great. I have to say my last week was a little hard. I wasn't feeling well, I even had a physical for my job on the actual Thanksgiving where I got an ultra-sound and had blood taken and my eyes checked and all this stuff at like 8 in the morning. Way to celebrate Thanksgiving, in a freezing cold room getting examined by coughing chinese nurses. To top that off no one really speaks to you there, the nurse just looks at your paper and tells you a room number. Go room one zero 2. After you're done in there, the nurse in the hall says, go room one zero six. So on and so on. IT was great. I felt so comfortable there and welcome. SOoooooooo, To celebrate on Saturday was really great. I left feeling full and a little buzzed and slept great. I do work tomorrow but not until five in the evening so its all gravy. (you like how I did that? all gravy??) Yea, so I'm feeling good and getting recharged, and even learned today how to say I want noodles, rice and lamb. All three of which I ordered from my street moms out on the corner cooking all night. Got a smile and everything..yur boy Nate is feeling good and to top THAT off I'm about to go beast out a workout in the gym. Pics on the way..goodies of my students and even a child that I stole. Kidding.

Sneak attack Shanghai

A few bland pics before I put up Thanksgiving photos. I have some great ones of the city coming soon also. Trust.

Thanksgiving

Some pics from last years Thanksgiving. Being in China this year will be the first Thanksgiving I haven't been in NYC for. EVER.  I should have my fill of turkey and all that good stuff however. John and Debbie organized a huge feast which I am currently waiting breathlessly for. I thought I would take a time out from the shanghai pics and throw some family stuff up from last year. Time really does fly. I'm sure Liza and Scott can attest to that. Look how little Charlotte is in these pics!!

Harbin

My number one travel destination while I'm in China is:

Harbin.

Do yourself a favor and google it. All I can say is YES. Did anyone say ice sculpture festival?

Taxi

My taxi driver sped through Shanghai, flashing his brights. One block of darkness, then sudden illumination. Memories were evoked of dark back wood roads in New England lit by slivers of lightning, decorated with raindrops and delicate whispers from the wind. Such a strange parallel, now in China reminiscing of my youth. A time not far from the present, but seemingly lived in another lifetime. I know I am alive. I felt for the first time what I have never felt before. We weaved through what felt like empty streets, only littered with people who would soon be washed away to their homes in the rain.  Dim lights from cars, red lights from street signs and green lights from numbers on busses, blended, and blurred together. An oil painting that will never be duplicated. My mind's eye trying not to blink. Each click of my driver's light switch congruent with my mind's thoughts. Trying to see clearly, but mist and smut cluttered my vision. Each glimpse of light blacked out by prolonged periods of darkness only to have extreme clarity, if not only for a second. Never stopping, never quitting, always reaching my destination, no matter what the price.

Camera revitalization

I haven't been taking my camera out lately because I just want to soak in the city. Sometimes when I have my camera with me I feel like I'm out doing an art project. Always looking for angles and colors and attitudes that try to express my inner voice. HA! I kill myself sometimes. Regardless I have been trying to get my ground and figure out locations and see how things are relating to each other so I can feel like I'm more part of the city. I'm starting to get the energy of the city. With that said I'm going to make sure I pack my camera with me everyday this week. I regretted not having it in a few places. I could have gotten some incredible images but I guess they were meant for me to see. Shanghai is not a city that will let you down visually. There will be plenty left to see tomorrow and the next day. With my first day of work tomorrow and rain falling from the dark Shanghai night, I think I'm going to relax and read a little before I call it a night. 

Thanks for the subway stories KID - thinking of home always gives me sweet dreams as I fall asleep :)