Putting the "Blah" in Blog

Ok so now I need to catch you up on 5/22-25.

Thursday 5/22

I am now in the midst of a waiting game. I need all 4 samples to decide on the factory I will move forward with. Ms. Kong says her sample will be ready maybe 5/26. Gracie says maybe 5/28. Kevin says maybe 5/27 and Flora says 5/26.

Thursday I get up and go to work out. The work out center is out of the way sort of but still connected to the hotel. I go around 8:30AM. On the way there, while going through the basement level, I notice a couple people sleeping on coaches in the darkened areas of the spa area. Weird. I don't know if they are security or slackers or what. They turn on the lights for me in the workout area. I use the treadmill for 35 minutes and then do some sit-ups. I snoop around and discover a tiny fridge that has chilled wet towels in it. They smell kind of musty but I don't care. It is so hot in there. When I'm done I'm drenched and I head back to my room, past the sleeping help.

This is my routine for the next several mornings. I start to pick up on a hotel staff sequence. They now tip each other off with phone calls when I arrive. I walk past one person and then I hear the phone ring to warn the work out area of my approach. Now when I arrive the treadmill is on and already running for me. Funny.

After cleaning up and having breakfast, I think I should work in my hotel room on sketches of the characters or something. I end up killing about 2-3 hours trying to locate and purchase a textile PMS (Pantone Matching System) color book so that I can choose my poly fleece colors. It takes long due to the translation and then a hotel staff person drives me to a vendor. It costs $120US. It's worth it. I hope I will need it for many years right? Yes!

I am not very productive Thursday or Friday. I do random shopping for small goods and take a stab at helping my Aunt Judy with her pet rescue organization logo.

On Friday I get a call from Lamby. She invites me to go to see some pretty sites in ShaoXing. One of them is the historically preserved residence of a profound Chinese author who's views weren't supported by the Chinese government. Luxun is his last name I believe. Lamby says we will go with a few other friends. So nice!

Lamby asks if my hotel has two beds. I say now but it has a King and I don't toss much. She's on a teachers salary, make that a Chinese teachers salary, so I'm happy to assist in any way of course. Plus she's so fun! I told her to bring her bath salts or something so she can have a long soak. Her apartment has no tub. This thrills her. Good deal.

Friday during breakfast I pocket some smiling cow foil-wrapped cheese triangles for a potential Happy Hour. Saturday AM I went shopping for some white wine to chill and some crackers for the cheese. I also snipe another handful of cheese triangles. HA! My grandma would be so proud. Chinese people don't each cheese. They only recently started drinking milk. So my sniping is practically necessary, so there.

I went to bed Friday looking forward to the next day. Enough Blah!

XXOO

Sheila