The Eyes Have It.....

Don't tell anyone but........I'M GOING TO CHINA!!!!!
That is, of course, if I don't die from a stress-related heart attack first. Don't laugh. It's a possibility. Liyin and I made our reservations at hotels in Beijing and Datong two days ago. Liyin talked directly with the hotel from her computer. So cool, that feature. Will make it easy for me to call home from China. She negotiated rates of $45 a night in Datong (in a beautiful hotel with an indoor pool) and $54 a night in Beijing (in a hotel on Wangfujing Street, near Beihai Park where I plan to join elderly Chinese one cold morning and try out some tai chi moves...seriously). Our hotel in Datong even includes breakfast. We plan to spend a couple of nights hotel free by utilizing night trains from Datong to Changchun and from Harbin back to Beijing. As you can see, I received a digital camera from a friend for Christmas and I am just learning how to use it. I might become addicted to taking silly pictures of myself! More later, LB

Thanksgiving in Nashville

Proof that cowgirls aren't always American!

Nana, Liyin and I were freezing as Ray took this picture of us at the Parthenon. We had met up with some friend's of Yeheng's (who teach at Vanderbilt) and they had whisked her off to their apartment for a little while. We literally ran around the Parthenon's exterior and then decided it was just too cold to be outside. I remember the days when there was an incredible all-white nativity scene set up in front of the Parthenon for Christmas. I suppose that's no longer PC for fairly big cities. Who knows.

So I had a great idea......we'll go to McDonald's for some hot chocolate. Yes! Uh, no......
We ended up at a Japanese restaurant on West End Avenue drinking Heineken's instead! :)

Firsts.....

This is Frankie with Nana in the background in my kitchen at the inaugural meeting of the International Chinese Dumpling-Making Margarita-Drinking Girls Only Club! :)
Frankie, Tracy, Nana, Ling and Ray....taken on the way up 441 toward Newfound Gap, Smokies.