06-12-2013, 07:28 AM
Well, I had another bout of diarrhea last night. My timing remains impeccable, because by morning I was again fine and ready to go.
Still, the morning was lent an ominous note by the bread pudding. It's been Joe's favorite for breakfast and mine as well. For Joe it's a comfort food, reminding him of the bread pudding his mother would fix (Joe is mid-70s and a key architect of this whole "I Love Beijing" affair). But this morning it was too dry and bready; perhaps a different cook?
Joe was in special ops in his earlier years. We're talking Cambodia. It's pretty unbelievable all the things he's been involved in. He mentioned that one time JFK called him. He won't say about what, but we're wondering if it was during the Cuban missile crisis and that Joe told him to "call their bluff." He believes Nixon was a great president and Carter was one of our worst (for being a liar, among other things). I'd normally beg to differ, but am withholding judgment for further reflection because he is so effin' knowledgeable and a noted problem-solver. More on Joe later, and his Chinese wife Lily, who is an incredible story in herself. They both seem to enjoy hanging out with me, which is usually for breakfast. Joe thinks it's great that I'm in the group and is rooting for me because of all the age discrimination he's seen.
I need to go to bed, so let me just give a brief summary of today. First we went to 798, which is an art area in Beijing -- literally a warren of interconnected art stores, galleries, and street art, including weird sculptures. Then it was lunch. For a change this was dim sum. After that was the Lama Temple, then the Summer Palace. Then we had a 15-course dinner, all items specially made for the holidays. Then a Peking Opera show.
Tomorrow might be silk stores or a car museum, and a movie studio, and maybe a movie theater. I can't hear worth a damn on the bus, or most anytime when there's lots of background noise, so I'm usually the last to know what we're doing..
Anyway, I'm going to bed.
Still, the morning was lent an ominous note by the bread pudding. It's been Joe's favorite for breakfast and mine as well. For Joe it's a comfort food, reminding him of the bread pudding his mother would fix (Joe is mid-70s and a key architect of this whole "I Love Beijing" affair). But this morning it was too dry and bready; perhaps a different cook?
Joe was in special ops in his earlier years. We're talking Cambodia. It's pretty unbelievable all the things he's been involved in. He mentioned that one time JFK called him. He won't say about what, but we're wondering if it was during the Cuban missile crisis and that Joe told him to "call their bluff." He believes Nixon was a great president and Carter was one of our worst (for being a liar, among other things). I'd normally beg to differ, but am withholding judgment for further reflection because he is so effin' knowledgeable and a noted problem-solver. More on Joe later, and his Chinese wife Lily, who is an incredible story in herself. They both seem to enjoy hanging out with me, which is usually for breakfast. Joe thinks it's great that I'm in the group and is rooting for me because of all the age discrimination he's seen.
I need to go to bed, so let me just give a brief summary of today. First we went to 798, which is an art area in Beijing -- literally a warren of interconnected art stores, galleries, and street art, including weird sculptures. Then it was lunch. For a change this was dim sum. After that was the Lama Temple, then the Summer Palace. Then we had a 15-course dinner, all items specially made for the holidays. Then a Peking Opera show.
Tomorrow might be silk stores or a car museum, and a movie studio, and maybe a movie theater. I can't hear worth a damn on the bus, or most anytime when there's lots of background noise, so I'm usually the last to know what we're doing..
Anyway, I'm going to bed.