Friday Funny Feb 25, 2011

Since this is the last Friday of the month, 

we will play a little game called

"Guess the Product".

I will show you the box

and you try and guess what the product is.

Thank you to my friend, Cynthia,

who had the smarts to keep this box for

my amusement and yours.

This is my favourite side of the box. 

The power!

What goes in, must come out.

I tried enlarging this one below, but clearly I need help. 

I dread asking my snarky in-house IT staff...

Anyway, I'm sure you can make it bigger yourselves.

Email your answers.
First correct answer wins a fabulous prize!
I don't know if my Mandarin speaking friends will have the edge or not.

For all my frozen family and friends in Canada, 

this is the last Friday in February.

Rejoice!

Elizabeth roughs it in Shanghai Feb 16, 2011

For those of you who know me, I do not camp. My idea of camping is a hotel with no room service. I generally try and avoid the great outdoors and the hardship associated with living in it. As one of my brothers once said, "Buffy, I don't think I've ever seen you in a natural setting."

I foolishly neglected to pack a cocktail shaker in our shipment my carry-on luggage. I am too cheap frugal to buy one when I have a beautiful red and white one waiting for me back home in Toronto.

So, I had to improvise. Forget about the zipper, telephone, ski doo and Blackberry. These photos demonstrate Canadian ingenuity at its finest.

So sad.

No proper jigger or shaker. I had to use measuring cups and

 a Chinese style travel mug 

with sieve for the loose tea leaves. 

It's not even the right type of glass! 

Oh, the humanity!!

This is the closest I have come to camping and it scared me.  

I will struggle on valiantly. 

Friday Funny Feb 17, 2011

I've noticed there is a lot of hyperbole in China.


My local ATM

Well, someone thinks highly of themselves!

Everyone is unique, just like you.

When "nice" just won't do.

Elizabeth volunteers...again! Feb 15, 2011

Finally! I had the chance to do what I had heard about way back in November....? December...? Anyway, the initial information meeting had been a while back and I was eager to get going.

On what you ask? You guys pose the best questions! On my volunteer assignment as "baby accompanier". A better title fails me now.

What is that? I accompany a fellow volunteer and baby, or babies, on trips to the hospital where a doctor checks up on the baby/babies.

Who are these babies? They are orphans who live at the Shanghai Healing Home, a home set up by an American that takes in abandoned babies who have cleft lips and/or cleft palates.

Here's their website and info:

www.shanghaihealinghome.com

The Shanghai Healing Home’s mission is to assist the local Chinese Children’s Welfare Institute by providing pre- and post-surgical care to abandoned babies suffering from surgically correctable deformities. Shanghai Healing Home provides a family-focused, home-like environment that meets not only the babies’ physical needs but also their emotional and social needs as well.

Why am I going? First, purely selfish. It makes me feel good to be needed and doing something useful. Second, they need another pair of hands during these doctors' visits. These babies can get up to mischief!
Take a look at Benjamin.

Too cute! I had to post them all!

Future doctor? 

Medical equipment sales rep?

He has obviously had one surgery already.

It sometimes takes two to fully correct the face.

This little fellow I was holding is Xian. He is still not strong enough for surgery. He was sound asleep until I had to undress him and the nurses gave him not one, not two, but FIVE shots. Poor baby! I he was very brave. Xian has the most beautiful eyes and is quite the chatterbox. 

It's been a long time since I had to change a diaper or had baby drool on my shoulder. 

It was all wonderful. 

I can hardly wait for next Tuesday when we have appointments again.

Elizabeth in print...again! Feb 16, 2011

This article was published in the American Women's 

Club of Shanghai's magazine "Spirit". 

Yes, all the sentiments expressed were heartfelt. No sarcasm or silliness, for a change.

Elizabeth birthday lunches Feb 14, 2011

How's that for a verb? Not my birthday, unfortunately. My birthday is later on in the year. Feel free to contact me for gift suggestions.

It was my friend Cynthia's birthday. Eliza was the Official Photographer of Fun. Jill joined us and added to the silliness that ensued.

The restaurant we descended upon. 

Lucky them!

With a card colour like this, I knew it would be a great place.

Look at this decor!

The table setting, purposely off-centre

The dishes were amazing and the food in them, even better.

Dolmades

Marinated olives with cocktails in background

Digging in to chickpea dip, remaining dolmades, tzatziki and olives

Dare I say it? 

I believe the food here at the Fat Olive was better than any I have tasted on the Danforth.

Heresy!

Staff at kitchen window wondering when we're going to leave.

Birthday girl Cynthia getting ready to blow out her candle.

The Merry Band of Troublemakers

We look so innocent!

Eliza taking a break from her duties.

Sorry, Jill, my fat head is blocking your smiling face.

The worst one of the bunch.

Nothing like good laughs with good friends.

I am blessed to have both.

P.S. For those of you counting, and I know you all are, this is my 100th post. Time flies when you're suffering...

Elizabeth revisits Moganshan Feb 11, 2011

I went with my friend, and fellow Canadian, Esther. She had never been and I offered to show her around. Even though this was my third visit, I still discovered new sights.

While this isn't new, I was thrilled it was still up. 

A proud mother moment. 

*sniff*

Someone else I know will be pleased to see these.

On to the new sights...

This was spied outside of Moganshan when Esther and I were climbing a stair case to check out what we thought was a gallery, but was really someone's living space. Oops. Anyway, no harm done and we caught a glimpse of old Shanghai. Check out the old mansion in the distance.

Closer shot, old and new

The bicycle cart in the front gives you an idea of scale.

Another old villa

Contrast of bygone splendour with newfound squalor

Love this

Ancient and modern

East superimposed on West

Iconic Shanghai mop drying in background

Never a dull moment in Moganshan!