A quick trip report

I'd mentioned a few times that I was off to China for a few days on business. The good news is that my time was in no way "wasted". Before I get to that, here's some photos. First of all, the pool.



Note the bank of windows to the left - that's the gym. I spent some quality time there every morning. Heck, I was up at 3:30a anyway. You'd be surprised how popular the treadmills are at 6a. I didn't bother with the pool. First off, no swimsuit. Second, it was so darned humid that I doubt I would have known if I was in the pool or just standing on the deck.

Now there's the view from the window:


That's the train station all the way to the right, just above that line of manicured trees. Interestingly enough, that train station was the best thing I'd ever seen the first time I was in China. (but that's another story)

And in the other direction:


Shenzhen is growing so quickly! Much of this stuff wasn't around 10 years ago. Heck, they're *renovating* stuff now.

Ok, the obligatory "harlot shot". How I wish I could have spent more quality time here:


I guess the sock likes the view:

And here's the upside of it all. They're finished. 1.5 of these socks were done on the plane ride out. Yes, the ride out. 13 hours goes a long way toward a pair of socks (ok, 3/4 of the way, to be exact.)


I love these socks. The yarn is great (STR Firebird, a RSC exclusive) - a lightweight 100% superwash. Shows off the pattern beautifully and these are my best fitting pair *EVER*. Anyway, that's that.

Oh, and one more thing. This guy cracked me up all week.



He and I go quite a ways back and I'm so happy to be working with him again. Doesn't he look just like Tin Tin?

Bizz Johnson Week 8

As mentioned in the previous post, we're hiking in Yosemite for most of this week. I'll be logging between 10 and 15 miles of walking (some w/pack and some without) rather than running through Thursday, but then it'll be time to do some make-up. I should be able to squeeze a few miles out of Thursday - Saturday, but to try and get the full 31 will be a challenge. The only bit of good news is that this is meant to be a "rest" week and the walking should give my ankle more time to heal-up.

(yes, it's still giving me trouble ...)

Monday - Cross Training actual: 8.6

Hiked 8.6 miles today, from 10,000' down to 7200'. The last three miles were hiking on the equivalent of cobblestones! We were WIPED. Absolutely wiped.

Tuesday - Run 4 miles actual: 0

Nothing today except lounging by the stream, a brief walk to the end of the lake and a nice, long nap. Merced Lake is a beautiful place.

Wednesday - Run 5 miles actual: 7.6

Hiked back up to Vogelsang via the Fletcher Creek trail today. It wasn't nearly as difficult as either of us expected and the views were incredible.

Thursday - Run 4 miles actual: 7

Back to Tuolomne Meadows via Rafferty Creek (same as the way in). Back down from 10,000' to 8,000'. Definitely warm (on, hot!) but it's always easier to walk down the hill than up it. :-)

Friday - Rest actual: 0

Oh, sweet lounging. Lazy, lazy, lounging. And the first good night's sleep since we left for High Camp!

Saturday - Run 7 miles actual: 0

Drove home. Knit. Ate a really good dinner. This is what vacations are all about.

Sunday - Run 11 miles actual: 0

More knitting and more sleeping. Wierd weather made it very difficult to leave the house. Make-up tomorrow ..

Total Scheduled Mileage: 31
Actual Mileage: 23.2 miles of hiking

Catching up a bit ...

Ok, so I've been remiss. I'd been doing such a good job of keeping my running log up to date, posting about knitting projects and even thinking about other stuff. Then, along came China.

Wierd things started to occur when I was logging in from Shenzhen - characters turned from English to Chinese (now *that* was wierd) and in some cases I couldn't even connect. Was this a symptom of the benevolent local authority "helping" me out? Was I really THAT jetlagged? Regardless, it kinda threw me off the bandwagon there for a while. I also impacted my running a bit, but things seem to be getting straightened out.

And now comes vacation! We're off to go hiking in Yosemite next week and that means no internet access (ergo, no blogging). I plan to bring along some knitting, but we'll see how that goes. No, the Mystery Stole is *not* the thing, but a pair of socks *is* the thing.

Before I go, here's some insight as to where everything is.

1) Mystery Stole - parked at the end of Clue 3. Haven't even started Clue 4, mainly due to Harry Potter and getting ready for this trip. Hope to pick it up again Thursday or Friday of next week.

2) Fawkes socks - done. Completed 1.5 socks on the plane TO Hong Kong, got a little more done on the way back, finished this past Monday. Pix in the camera, download pending.

3. The Bag - materials acquired, knitted up to the join of the CC, I'm unhappy. I think this puppy will get frogged back and restarted; there's a mistake in the CC row (missed a stitch somewhere) so it needs to be "addressed" anyway.

4. Meida's Socks - started and through 1st pattern repeat. This is what's going along on the hike. Totally portable and very simple.

That's it. Updated run info in a separate post and then I'm on hiatus until next Saturday, at the earliest.

Man ... I really need to get started on the Kauni ...

Bizz Johnston Week 7

Monday - Cross Training actual: flying

13 hours in coach to Hong Kong. The good news is that I finished 1.5 socks!

Tuesday - Run 4 miles actual: 0

Now is this US time or HK time? If US, then I ran. If HK, then no. We'll leave it as "no".

Wednesday - Run 7 miles actual: 7

Treadmill! Oh, the humidity (or is that humanity?). Jet lag got me up at 3a to watch the World Series of Carrom and that meant running at 6a. Lovely view of the pool, though ...

Thursday - Run 4 miles actual: 4

Managed to sleep until 4:30a today! Definitely a step forward ...

Friday - Rest actual: Rest.

Saturday - Run 7 pace miles actual: 6

and boy was that difficult!

Sunday - Run 14 miles actual: 0

Zzzzzzz ... and Harry Potter ...

Total Scheduled Mileage: 36
Actual Mileage: 17 (boy, that's not good ...)

25 years and still going strong ...

Ever wonder what 25 years of marriage looks like? Well, here it is:


These are two of my most favorite people in the world - and last Wednesday we were lucky enough to be invited to the party. Ralph and Carol treated us (and 12 other close friends and relatives) to a cruise on the San Francisco Bay - just like their wedding! The Blue and Gold fleet hosted the ceremony while Hornblower hosted the party. Food, drinks and fireworks were on the menu for the evening and the weather cooperated by keeping the fog at bay until after the pyrotechnics were done. By the way - that white number she's wearing - that was her "going away dress" from 1982. It still fits!

Ralph was also the officiant at our wedding - and he did a darn good job. Only one problem .. he neglected to tell us that he cries a weddings. Who knew?

Oh, and here's my other favorite couple:

These two just make me want to smile. Generally, if Chris and I are doing as well as these four when we hit our dotage (which is a hell of a lot closer than I like to think), I'll be pretty darned satisfied. What a wonderful way to celebrate the 4th of July. (and did I mention, that was our 18th anniversary?)

Independence day - feh. Here's to a little de-pendence. :-)