Dears,
I am wondering about all of you and what is going on at home. You hear from me, so please let me hear from you.
Here are tid bits that don't fit into any category:
The Explorer, this marvelous ship that is taking us around the world is one of the fastest cruise ships afloat, if not the fastest. We generally travel at somewhere between 9 and 19 knots, but it is capable of going 30. That makes us able to outrun most if not all pirate ships. I also learned yesterday that it cannot be armed any way according to maritime law but there are at least 2 water cannons on board, maybe more, that can blast any pirate out of existence.
An additional medical team came on board in Shangai from UVa, a doctor, a resident and 3 medical students. This had been planned long ago in case of a swine flu epidemic here. Knock on wood, but so far none of it.
I had my first visit to the clinic a couple of days ago. Somehow I picked up conjunctivitis and looked pretty awful. I was afraid the Japanese and the Chinese were not going to let me into their respective countries. They do a temperature scan on everyone before letting us down the gangway. I looked at my toes when I went past the inspectors.
These are pretty impressive organizations, UVa and ISE-Institute for Seaboard Education. Desmond Tutu is going to be on board for the whole voyage next fall.
The Chinese retaliated the day we arrived in Shanghai for Obama's meetinng with the Dalhi Lama and with our sending more arms to Taiwan. The Chinese immigration team sat around drinking our coffee and eating our cookies for an hour and a half, before letting us go through their system.
I don't understand Skype. I can be doing something else on the computer and suddenly there is Sandy or Ed. So far no sound, but the printed "chat" and the picture work. If you know what to do, please let me know.
Exercise was one of the big questions. There is an exercise room on the 7th deck, but I have managed to avoid it. Instead 2-3 times a day I climb the 36 steps from here on the 5th deck to the Faculty Lounge on the 7th deck, 2-3 times a day I climb the 16 steps to the dining room and class rooms on the 6th deck and several times I go from here at the bow to the stern; the ship is 600 feet long. Double the up climbing for the down and I am getting a workout. Also, in Shanghai we had to go the 47 steps down the gangway to land, and then back up later in the day.
That is about it. On to Hong Kong..........
Love to all,
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Hi Miss Mary
ReplyDeleteI love the tid-bit page!! Loved your thoughts on the pirate ships and water canons. I should have bought you a "super soaker" for your trip :0). I would say blast any pirate away unless of course, he's Johnny Depp (Maggy would understand).
Sounds like you're getting plenty of excercise! Steve and I went to the Infinity Music Hall last night in Norfolk. You would love it. Dinner and various different types of bands play there, ranging from blues, to rock, reggae etc. It's run by a bunch of those derelict (sp?) Hincks boys, but they seem to be pulling it off. More snow forcasted for this week. Miss you loads and living vicariously through you. Enjoy and watch out for those pirates!!!
Love you
H
MJ
ReplyDeleteI sounds like you are getting plenty of exercise, however I wonder about the gym phobia that runs with you and you daughter. After a nice streach working at home I am back on the road for a couple weeks. All is well in CT snow on the ground and awaiting the arrival of spring. The maple sap is starting to run so the warm weather can not be far away.
Miss you, travel safely, Steve
Wouldn't you know that you would really start writing the week I am no longer available to read. I had Anne, my dearest (childhood) friend here from Houston. We don't get together that often so the email went. I took her to Peter's Class on Borg's book on Wednesday. We had a great time. As always, Peter's classes are outstanding.
ReplyDeleteWhen you come home, I must show you my embroidery fro Suzhou. I am sure you saw them being made. Hard to believe that human hands could make anything so transparent and delicate.
I have mainly been worn out from lack of sleep and those boring, upsetting nuisances invoved in owning a house.
Tomorrow is Gary's Jazz service. Monday evening Ed and I are going over to Gail and Ken's for dinner (casual). Tuesday is the CHC Board Mtg and winter social, so Ed will come to the Social. Wednesday is a Lenten Suppoer. Don't ask me when I eat at home or how much I weigh.
It is so great to at last be getting some news from you. Keep up the REGULAR AND MORE FREQUENT posts. We all miss you, especially Ed. Love, Sandy (the other one!)
Sounds like you are very busy. I like your tid bits.
ReplyDeleteKristin and I just got back from college tours. We visited Denison, Dickinson and Hobart. All very nice but KJ really liked Dickinson. Beautiful school and not too far away.
It feels like spring. Snow is starting to melt and I actually washed my car this am. Sandy and I are going up to your house this afternoon for a once-around to make sure everything is ok. There have been a number of break-ins in this area recently so we are trying to be a little more careful about security. Apparently the Spectors called the police the other day as there was someone suspicious in their driveway and someone with a flashlight walked up to the Waldren's from Mountain Spring.
Dearest Mutti, I'm having blogging issues. This is the third time I've tried to send you a note this afternoon and twice now my nice long message has been swallowed up in blogger hell. This time might be quite short! I'm also only partially satisfied with blogging; it is, afterall, just you I want to talk to and nit all your fans. Nonetheless, there's not much to report. The biggest thing is waiting to hear from KO. Should be any day now. Jane's got mixed feelings about going: happy to be carrying on the legacy, sad to be leaving some very dear friends. And Andrew, as you know, turned 20 yesterday. How can my little boy be so old? As a VERY dear friend told me, I couldn't have been more than 13 when I had him (!!). I'm plugging along with the amo amas amat. Today's lesson wad the pluperfect passive infinitive. I'm not making this up. And Wednesday I'm heading up to Storrs for a workshop on writing the prospectus. I can't believe it's finally getting to this! Spring is definitely in the air. P. Phil promises daffodils soon but we have a wintry mess headed this way tonight. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad all is well and you're getting such magnificent workouts, if only for your mind. That's the way to stay young!
I miss you and love you dearly,
LO