I usually get BD cuff links for his birthday as he loves to wear them. Back home I would scour the stores and EBay for months. Well that is not possible here so I have scoured the tourist traps. Found one pair that was not bad but she wanted 175 US dollars for dodgy goods and did not say shit when I walked away. She reminds me of the lady with the decorative green glass jars on Taikang Lu who still has her overpriced shit too. I did find some acceptable ones in the rabbit warren and the guy was willing to deal. BD was with me and he liked this pair of star Sapphire, really dark black color and I found a pair that are some silver colored metal. I worked the deal down to 75 bucks including a cute wallet I found for The Lady. And guess what? The one pair of cuff links is stamped Bulgari, I swear I almost punched the guy when he pointed this out, who the fuck thinks this is really Bulgari.
The only potted plants in the plant hole were Bonsai and I am not going there.
BD deep cleaned the back balcony and it is quite pleasant there now but we need some plants. Have not seen the plant cart man this year.
I am working on a new soup recipe with pork and ginger, we will see.
Need to go to the fruit market so see ya later, found some Florida grapefruit for 1.50 US and it was pretty good.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
The Picture of Dorian Gray
As is my custom after the ayis leave I clean. I go from room to room and make things right and clean up the mess they leave behind.
Well, today on the bedroom nightstand I found a portrait. Of a Chinese girl. Quite a large pastel and chalk drawing encased in a plastic cover.
What the fuck is that doing in my bedroom.
I looked out the peephole and the ayis were still cleaning down the hall so I waited until I saw one of them. I would have gone over but I was still in my nightgown and robe. I would really have liked to look into those apartments.
The ayis acted like they had no idea how this portrait came to be in my apartment. Hmmm, I think it was hidden in the sheets.
Why would someone hide their portrait in the sheets?
Well, today on the bedroom nightstand I found a portrait. Of a Chinese girl. Quite a large pastel and chalk drawing encased in a plastic cover.
What the fuck is that doing in my bedroom.
I looked out the peephole and the ayis were still cleaning down the hall so I waited until I saw one of them. I would have gone over but I was still in my nightgown and robe. I would really have liked to look into those apartments.
The ayis acted like they had no idea how this portrait came to be in my apartment. Hmmm, I think it was hidden in the sheets.
Why would someone hide their portrait in the sheets?
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The Antiques Market
Or as I call it, more shitty junk than you have seen before, gathered together in one dusty place sold by people that actually believe their crap is your decorating dream.
They also have every insect and critter you have ever imagined. And they sell cages for them. Cages for things that look like roaches. WTF. Do they have obedience class for huge bugs?
95% of everything there is phony shit. Some of it nice phony shit but phony. The real shit is in mostly bad condition and very expensive. Very few musical instruments and Victrola and pianos, poor condition, toy cars, metal, in such bad condition it was not believable, and old leather luggage that maybe could be salvaged if you were a dedicated preservationist.
I got a phony Ming vase about 3 feet tall and silk robes for me and Big Daddy. You get a first sale of the day discount and a "have a Chinese friend" discount, and a live in Shanghai discount. Which amounts to how willing are you to walk away discount. You can get the same discount anywhere. Oh, and my lucky number is 3, not a popular lucky number for tradespeople.
Got invited to spend bucks to attend a charity event for phony Chinese orphans. They are not really orphans, they have mothers who killed their husbands for spousal abuse. The Chinese government puts them in prison and then the children are quasi-orphans as the government pretty much kicks them under the bus. This is a Danish charity I think, still have to read the information. So as you can see the social life is picking up for us.
The charity lady I met has orange hair as she used some Chinese hair dye she found in her living quarters. Reminds me I need a hair appointment.
We have a missing steak knife which is kinda bad as you are supposed to sign for those because of all the stabbings. Now, we did not sign for this knife but I will feel bad every time I read about a new stabbing.
Really creepy ad on CNN for Asiana airlines with a hostess covering up a sleeping guy with some wild gleam in her eye. Don't think I will fly with them.
OK, need some spa time and need to check out my new lighted 5X makeup mirror. Got it by asking the co-worker from hubby's job to search for one. It is quite unusual here and after looking at mine she is ordering one for herself. I am a trend setter. Who knew.
They also have every insect and critter you have ever imagined. And they sell cages for them. Cages for things that look like roaches. WTF. Do they have obedience class for huge bugs?
95% of everything there is phony shit. Some of it nice phony shit but phony. The real shit is in mostly bad condition and very expensive. Very few musical instruments and Victrola and pianos, poor condition, toy cars, metal, in such bad condition it was not believable, and old leather luggage that maybe could be salvaged if you were a dedicated preservationist.
I got a phony Ming vase about 3 feet tall and silk robes for me and Big Daddy. You get a first sale of the day discount and a "have a Chinese friend" discount, and a live in Shanghai discount. Which amounts to how willing are you to walk away discount. You can get the same discount anywhere. Oh, and my lucky number is 3, not a popular lucky number for tradespeople.
Got invited to spend bucks to attend a charity event for phony Chinese orphans. They are not really orphans, they have mothers who killed their husbands for spousal abuse. The Chinese government puts them in prison and then the children are quasi-orphans as the government pretty much kicks them under the bus. This is a Danish charity I think, still have to read the information. So as you can see the social life is picking up for us.
The charity lady I met has orange hair as she used some Chinese hair dye she found in her living quarters. Reminds me I need a hair appointment.
We have a missing steak knife which is kinda bad as you are supposed to sign for those because of all the stabbings. Now, we did not sign for this knife but I will feel bad every time I read about a new stabbing.
Really creepy ad on CNN for Asiana airlines with a hostess covering up a sleeping guy with some wild gleam in her eye. Don't think I will fly with them.
OK, need some spa time and need to check out my new lighted 5X makeup mirror. Got it by asking the co-worker from hubby's job to search for one. It is quite unusual here and after looking at mine she is ordering one for herself. I am a trend setter. Who knew.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Yucky Thursday
Finally might be normal from the jet lag.
Ayi's were here and did the usual half-assed job. Asked them to call the laundry to pick up a shirt. After 15 minutes of the ayi on the phone I got a call from someone on the house phone. He wanted to know what I was complaining about this time. Hmmm. Told him I had no laundry bag to send out my shirt. Fuckhead.
Very cold and dreary today.
Someone asked me for a linked-in response, a person that I actually know and worked with-so working this now and trying to firm up my potential new job.
Started putting my laundry out on the balcony with the new spring weather, when I put the underwear out I will post a pic.
Internet still spotty but I got to watch the latest episode of Modern Family, still waiting to see DWTS. And waiting for my new make-up mirror.
Off to Amazon for new books, have 9 left that I want to read, 4 left half read or don't want to really read, no new magazines.
Oh yes, Punkin Head called and the internship of his dreams, good going sweet boy.
Ayi's were here and did the usual half-assed job. Asked them to call the laundry to pick up a shirt. After 15 minutes of the ayi on the phone I got a call from someone on the house phone. He wanted to know what I was complaining about this time. Hmmm. Told him I had no laundry bag to send out my shirt. Fuckhead.
Very cold and dreary today.
Someone asked me for a linked-in response, a person that I actually know and worked with-so working this now and trying to firm up my potential new job.
Started putting my laundry out on the balcony with the new spring weather, when I put the underwear out I will post a pic.
Internet still spotty but I got to watch the latest episode of Modern Family, still waiting to see DWTS. And waiting for my new make-up mirror.
Off to Amazon for new books, have 9 left that I want to read, 4 left half read or don't want to really read, no new magazines.
Oh yes, Punkin Head called and the internship of his dreams, good going sweet boy.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Partial Recovery
Home since Friday evening and not up to par yet. We went for a walk Saturday morning and it was very chilly. All unpacked and put away and have the summer clothes in the closet and the winter stuff packed away. Now some laundry is in order.
The new ayi's came this morning on time and did not fuck up. We will see how long this lasts. Big Daddy did a lot of cleaning while I was gone and it is looking nicer in here.
Have to call a man about a job and I am trying to decide, do it before or after the nap. We will see in a bit how fast I fade.
Flight home was fine and Delta is as fucked up as ever. They should just paint SO WHAT on the sides of the plane and leave it at that.
Something curious happened while I was gone, they rebuilt the coffee shop. I know I am a crazy white furriner but why the hell do you build a coffee shop and 8 months later tear it out and rebuild it? This time tho they did build an outside deck. No change to the footprint so that was not the reason. Maybe they needed some Chinese credits for hiring people or something. Kinda reminds me of Plant Loco but Plant Loco redid everything 3 times minimum.
Taxi driver from the Pudong airport was hilarious, I told him to slow down a couple times and he kept telling me May Quanch (sp) which roughly translates to no problem, no big deal. By the time I gave him the final directions to the apartment he was peeing his pants laughing. He got a good tip for the humor alone.
The new ayi's came this morning on time and did not fuck up. We will see how long this lasts. Big Daddy did a lot of cleaning while I was gone and it is looking nicer in here.
Have to call a man about a job and I am trying to decide, do it before or after the nap. We will see in a bit how fast I fade.
Flight home was fine and Delta is as fucked up as ever. They should just paint SO WHAT on the sides of the plane and leave it at that.
Something curious happened while I was gone, they rebuilt the coffee shop. I know I am a crazy white furriner but why the hell do you build a coffee shop and 8 months later tear it out and rebuild it? This time tho they did build an outside deck. No change to the footprint so that was not the reason. Maybe they needed some Chinese credits for hiring people or something. Kinda reminds me of Plant Loco but Plant Loco redid everything 3 times minimum.
Taxi driver from the Pudong airport was hilarious, I told him to slow down a couple times and he kept telling me May Quanch (sp) which roughly translates to no problem, no big deal. By the time I gave him the final directions to the apartment he was peeing his pants laughing. He got a good tip for the humor alone.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Beautiful day in Detroit
Sunshine and warm. Just doesn't get better than this.
Saw my beautiful niece and nephew, they are fantastic and I enjoyed it so much.
Bought rubber shoes for Shanghai. Nephew helped me pick them out as neither of us wear rubber shoes and it was a big decision. We decided to forgo the jujubes are whatever the hell they are as they looked potentially painful and they did not have Hello Kitty.
Found a Fiat dealer on Hall Road have to check that out soon as we are looking for a new car in July.
Finally sleeping a normal restful sleep which is just about right as I will be leaving in a few days.
Big Daddy hunted all over Shanghai for a lighted make-up mirror for me with no luck at all. One lady even took pity on him and went to the other stores with him. His big find was when one store after much "okay, okay" brought him a hand mirror and a flashlight. We cannot make this shit up.
I cannot believe I am actually looking forward to returning to Shanghai. And as they are putting a lot of people in jail the streets should not be as crowded. It is what it is.
On a serious note I bought a pair of Toms shoes. For every pair of shoes you buy Toms gives a pair of shoes to a child who has no shoes. These are not expensive shoes, mine cost just over 50 bucks US. And mine are sparkled silver which I guarantee you every wench on Nanjing LU will be chasing my ass to see where I got them. Chinese love sparkly. And today so do I.
Saw my beautiful niece and nephew, they are fantastic and I enjoyed it so much.
Bought rubber shoes for Shanghai. Nephew helped me pick them out as neither of us wear rubber shoes and it was a big decision. We decided to forgo the jujubes are whatever the hell they are as they looked potentially painful and they did not have Hello Kitty.
Found a Fiat dealer on Hall Road have to check that out soon as we are looking for a new car in July.
Finally sleeping a normal restful sleep which is just about right as I will be leaving in a few days.
Big Daddy hunted all over Shanghai for a lighted make-up mirror for me with no luck at all. One lady even took pity on him and went to the other stores with him. His big find was when one store after much "okay, okay" brought him a hand mirror and a flashlight. We cannot make this shit up.
I cannot believe I am actually looking forward to returning to Shanghai. And as they are putting a lot of people in jail the streets should not be as crowded. It is what it is.
On a serious note I bought a pair of Toms shoes. For every pair of shoes you buy Toms gives a pair of shoes to a child who has no shoes. These are not expensive shoes, mine cost just over 50 bucks US. And mine are sparkled silver which I guarantee you every wench on Nanjing LU will be chasing my ass to see where I got them. Chinese love sparkly. And today so do I.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Travel Pet Peeves
Home again to Michigan and I must say it is just as gray and dreary as I remember. There is some sun this morning so I should savor it, they say rain is on the way. Loving the TV and the fast Internet. Loving the pastrami and Swiss my special girl picked up for me. Big Daddy is so jealous I have real food. Speaking of BD he is back at the Best Western and went into the lobby bar for the infamous beef hamburger without beef. The bitch was still there but she did not wait on him, she sent the two girls. BD said they were trying not to laugh when he checked for the beef so this is obviously a story that made the rounds.
We tried to call for a taxi but the front desk never answered so we pulled all the bags to the front ourselves and Mr. Gatekeeper came up to us with the jabba jabba. As he has never spoken before I was in shock and awe. And of course had no idea what he was communicating. Turned out he was helping us get a taxi from the 3 stooges. 2 of the stooges spoke a bit of English so I heavily stressed drive slow and no crazy. Mucho pantomime. That worked out great, better than the child proof lock lessons. This guy for reason was using the child proof locks and was flummoxed when the doors would not open. This happened more than one time.
So I am going through passport control at the airport and I see this Chinese chick very oddly dressed. Well that was because she had her dress tucked into her panties in the back and her coat just barely covered her ass. After watching her awhile there was an opportunity to get her attention just before the security checkpoint where I knew she would have to take that coat off. I casually walked up and asked if she spoke English and thank goodness she responded yes. She thanked me. I hope she understood me.
Waiting at the gate I saw this guy, big guy dressed in shorts and a tee shirt. Well it was not shorts weather in Shanghai nor in Detroit. I was like, WTF. He just happened to be in front of me in the customs line and if me if it was always like this in Detroit. I asked him "like what"? He said passport and customs and I had to tell him it was the best I had ever seen, we were literally flying through. Although the bag carousel broke down 3 times and was still broken when I left. I asked about the shorts and he told me he was flying on to Atlanta. He said Atlanta International terminal was fantastic and very speedy. Who knew. So baggage claim is my first pet peeve, it sucks in Detroit.
I observed the flight crew arriving and I must say I have never seen a sadder looking group of people. Grim looking group. Not a smile to be had. They looked like they were dragging the world with them. And they stayed that way for the entire flight in coach. In B/E they perked up a bit but when they came through that curtain they left their smiles behind. I went back to the galley about 4 hours into the flight to ask for a glass of water and you would have thought I asked for the bitches tacky jewelry. They no longer put out the glasses and water for us scum in the back. When they served the last meal, breakfast, they give you a small styrofoam cup of coffee on request. No refills, none, nada. WTF. I realize water and coffee cost Delta big money but smiles are free. If they hate their jobs it is time to retire. And everyone of them was old enough for social security so what is the problem. Maybe they could just roll them over to be TSA and then they could still be mean but not have to pour the coffee. Pet peeve 2.
Gate lice. The final pet peeve. As in normal in China people started lining up for boarding early. Very early. But I noticed this was the white people in the "Elite" lane. And they stood there forever. And the Chinese chick checked their boarding passes and ok'd them. So when they call zone 1 I go get into the line and I am the last and only one. Hmm. Then I get to my seat, which is an "elite" seat and the bitch that was number 3 in line is in my row in the window seat. With no carry on bags. So why did she have to cheat. Did she think they were going to take her seat out and make her sit on the floor? And a lot of the other folks in the line ahead of me were all back in steerage with me too. And the Chinese chick let them cheat. Grr. Don't get in line until it is your turn.
Well to finish up with this post, as per my usual when I got home the toilet broke. As we are down to one toilet this is a bit of an issue. So yes, me and Mr. Rooter are dating again. He should be here this afternoon. Thank goodness Punkin Head stocked up the wine.
We tried to call for a taxi but the front desk never answered so we pulled all the bags to the front ourselves and Mr. Gatekeeper came up to us with the jabba jabba. As he has never spoken before I was in shock and awe. And of course had no idea what he was communicating. Turned out he was helping us get a taxi from the 3 stooges. 2 of the stooges spoke a bit of English so I heavily stressed drive slow and no crazy. Mucho pantomime. That worked out great, better than the child proof lock lessons. This guy for reason was using the child proof locks and was flummoxed when the doors would not open. This happened more than one time.
So I am going through passport control at the airport and I see this Chinese chick very oddly dressed. Well that was because she had her dress tucked into her panties in the back and her coat just barely covered her ass. After watching her awhile there was an opportunity to get her attention just before the security checkpoint where I knew she would have to take that coat off. I casually walked up and asked if she spoke English and thank goodness she responded yes. She thanked me. I hope she understood me.
Waiting at the gate I saw this guy, big guy dressed in shorts and a tee shirt. Well it was not shorts weather in Shanghai nor in Detroit. I was like, WTF. He just happened to be in front of me in the customs line and if me if it was always like this in Detroit. I asked him "like what"? He said passport and customs and I had to tell him it was the best I had ever seen, we were literally flying through. Although the bag carousel broke down 3 times and was still broken when I left. I asked about the shorts and he told me he was flying on to Atlanta. He said Atlanta International terminal was fantastic and very speedy. Who knew. So baggage claim is my first pet peeve, it sucks in Detroit.
I observed the flight crew arriving and I must say I have never seen a sadder looking group of people. Grim looking group. Not a smile to be had. They looked like they were dragging the world with them. And they stayed that way for the entire flight in coach. In B/E they perked up a bit but when they came through that curtain they left their smiles behind. I went back to the galley about 4 hours into the flight to ask for a glass of water and you would have thought I asked for the bitches tacky jewelry. They no longer put out the glasses and water for us scum in the back. When they served the last meal, breakfast, they give you a small styrofoam cup of coffee on request. No refills, none, nada. WTF. I realize water and coffee cost Delta big money but smiles are free. If they hate their jobs it is time to retire. And everyone of them was old enough for social security so what is the problem. Maybe they could just roll them over to be TSA and then they could still be mean but not have to pour the coffee. Pet peeve 2.
Gate lice. The final pet peeve. As in normal in China people started lining up for boarding early. Very early. But I noticed this was the white people in the "Elite" lane. And they stood there forever. And the Chinese chick checked their boarding passes and ok'd them. So when they call zone 1 I go get into the line and I am the last and only one. Hmm. Then I get to my seat, which is an "elite" seat and the bitch that was number 3 in line is in my row in the window seat. With no carry on bags. So why did she have to cheat. Did she think they were going to take her seat out and make her sit on the floor? And a lot of the other folks in the line ahead of me were all back in steerage with me too. And the Chinese chick let them cheat. Grr. Don't get in line until it is your turn.
Well to finish up with this post, as per my usual when I got home the toilet broke. As we are down to one toilet this is a bit of an issue. So yes, me and Mr. Rooter are dating again. He should be here this afternoon. Thank goodness Punkin Head stocked up the wine.
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