Weekend Reflections - Rainy Day in China

Once again, I would like to show off a photograph taken by my daughter, Katya, while she was on her ambassador trip to China a few weeks ago. It was rainy with grey skies for most of her trip. I am amazed at some of the places and people she managed to capture with the absence of cooperation from Mother Nature.

Every Friday through Sunday, Newtown Area Photo sponsors a meme where a gazillion photographers, amateur through pro, can showcase their work using a "Reflection" theme. I love to see the different points of view that people have, and the truly amazing pictures that they take.

Thank you Newtown Area Photo for sponsoring this meme every weekend, and allowing me to participate. Please visit James at Newtown Area Photo and be prepared to be "wowed!"

Have a wonderful weekend!

Wordful Wednesday - Ten Hut!

Here is another shameless use of Katya's photos from her trip to China. These Chinese Terracotta Warriors were built and buried with Emperor Qin Shi Huang, circa 210 BC. There are approximately 8,000 warriors, horses, chariots, acrobats, officials, and strongmen. Their purpose was to help Qin rule another empire in the afterlife. No two warriors are alike. The warriors were discovered by farmers while drilling for water in 1974. Excavation started almost immediately and is still ongoing. All that has been excavated so far is housed indoors for environmental purposes and part of it is open to the public as a museum.

Each Wednesday, Angie at Seven Clown Circus hosts this photo meme for us to post pictures that need little words. I felt a little background would be interesting, so I used more than a few words, sorry! To see many other great pictures (with not nearly as many words as me), please click on the logo below and prepare for some wonderful photos!




Happy Hump Day!

Friday Fragments, Episode #102

"Hello, pretty lady!" said the Panda to the girl! Only the double paned glass separated this very active Panda and Princess Katya! This probably was the highlight of her trip as she is crazy for Pandas!


Wow! What a quick week this was! When I'm working, I have time to read and write on blogs, but being off, is a whole different game! I walk around in slow motion watching the day move in fast-forward! Why is that? I had so many things I wanted to accomplish this week, and well, it didn't happen! I will say that I am relaxed and my stress level is in a good spot! No new white hairs this week!

I had the "responsibility" talk with Edwina this week, with hopes of planting some sort of motivation. She has had a really hard week, and my spewing of motherly love, in my honest-but-not-tactful manner, wasn't what she wanted to hear. I have seen a few changes, however, so first I will give the credit to God for giving me the words to say and the courage to say them, and second, I will give the credit to God for opening her ear canals long enough to hear most of my words. Funny how he works when you most need him!

I went on a day trip to Columbia, MO, home of the Mizzou Tigers, and Hero's Alma mater. Hero and I got a bagel and cup of coffee and talked for two hours. (The a/c stopped working at his "bachelor" pad so we hunted down some a/c we could count on!) I don't get much alone time with him anymore, so this was a very special treat for me. He's trying to get his ducks in order so he can start paying his student loans. I am no financial wiz, so I told him what works (most of the time) for me. I know God had a hand in that one, too!


Katya prepared her thank you letter to all of the wonderful people who donated towards her tuition for the China trip. She also picked out one of her photos to send. I'm loving that she will just break out (for no reason) and start talking about something funny that happened on the trip. Yesterday, she mailed them, as well as the silk scarves to the grandmas and Auntie (see Yasek Jewelry Design above - that's her Auntie!).

I've been threatening Rock with a butt chewing all week! He graduated college in May, and is still chilling!!!! "Paleeeze mom! I just finished 17 years of straight school! I'm due!" He's right... so I left him as the sounds of explosions could be heard from his computer military game. Anybody need a really handsome graphic designer?

It's been an emotional roller coaster week, but it's been a great eye-opener for me! I continue to learn life lessons from my underlings, and I hope that never stops.

Thank you to the wonderful Mrs4444 for hosting this great Friday forum where we can talk about anything that might not make a whole post! Just click on the logo below and you will be transported to her blog!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Fragmented Fridays #98 - Chinese Style

Yes, this is a picture of The Great Wall located in the country of China. It is approximately 5,500 miles in length and stretches from Shanghaiguan in the east to Lop Nur in the west, and along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia*. The entire wall is not really all wall. It is made up of brick wall, trenches, hills and rivers. This concludes our history lesson for today.

Well, here goes my first Fragmented Friday, graciously hosted by Mrs.4444. Please click on the logo and stop by. You will find a lot of great reads there!




So...for starters...last week when I was at my temp job answering phones, I became a little restless (bored). My cute butt was beginning to ache so I stood up to do some leg exercises. MISTAKE NO.1! I somehow strained, sprained or pulled something inside of my right butt cheek. I have been limping for 8 days now, and feeling very embarrassed, especially when asked about the limp. I have been lying and telling everyone that my dog tripped me with her leash. If all else fails, blame the dog! (It's hell getting old; don't do it if you can avoid it!)



To add to that misery, on Monday of this week I had my annual colonoscopy. Need I say more? First I self-abuse myself, then I allow a couple of doctors to abuse me and probably laughed the whole time because I was out and couldn't hear them! Everything went well and there were no complications.

Tomorrow night, my baby - 17 year old Katya, is leaving for three weeks in China. CHINA!!!!! I'm very excited for her, but I also am a little anxious. This is a trip of a lifetime! She will be well-chaperoned, and plans to drink only bottled water. (Did you know that there is no drinking age for alcohol in China?) She has plenty of little tissue packages for the pottys outside of the hotels. She will only eat "chicken" and nothing else, no matter what they say it is! She gets to do some touristy stuff, some community service stuff, and gets to stay with a family before she returns. We picked up some currency from the bank so she could start spending money as soon as she gets off the plane. Her dad wants her to by a plasma TV and ship it home. I just want her to come home...in about three days!!!

Ed is having a great time spacing out graduation parties of her friends. She has been attending at least two parties a week since the end of May. At least I know she is eating well...almost too well! Rock has been incognito since his graduation party. He just finished up 17 years of continuous schooling. I told him he could "check out" for a week or two before he has to find a job! He has been glued to his computer playing shoot-em-up games on the net. He SAYS he is putting together his virtual resume to send out to prospective employers. Yeah...and I look like Elizabeth Taylor!

I hope you all have a great weekend, and I thank you for taking the time to check out my first "Fragment" post!



*Wikipedia, The Great Wall of China