After a very busy weekend, we had a quiet Sunday night at home. Following a dinner of homemade calzones prepared by Kathleen and Juliana, we had homework, piano practice, and leisurely reading of a Harry Potter novel.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
#301 That 70s Party
Saturday night was a huge 40th birthday party for Kathleen and five of our neighbors who turn forty years old in 2010. Since the crew were all born in 1970, the party was a 70s theme with costumes required. The party was held at a popular bar in SIP called Garbo's. As you can see from the pictures, people participated enthusiastically in the 70s theme with lots of afros, feathered hair, polyester, and dancing to Kiss, Neil Diamond, the Bee Gees, and KC and the Sunshine Band.
Kathleen wore a lycra body suit with her hair parted in the middle and I had a custom made Saturday Night Fever suit from the Suzhou costume tailor (the tailor ripped me off charging $100 U.S. for the 3 piece suit and black shirt). When Anthony, Magnus, Anthony, and Mike made their entrance as Kiss, it was an unforgettable moment. Anthony, my next door neighbor (a.k.a. Ace Freeley) said he actually felt like a rock star all night. Other notable costumes were the guys dress as 70s tennis stars and Charlie's Angels.
Surrounding the cake you can see the honored quartogenarians - Anna, Jeanine, Kathleen, Sonya, Anthony, and Mike. With over one hundred guests, the party was a huge success and one of the most fun occassions we have ever experienced.
Kathleen wore a lycra body suit with her hair parted in the middle and I had a custom made Saturday Night Fever suit from the Suzhou costume tailor (the tailor ripped me off charging $100 U.S. for the 3 piece suit and black shirt). When Anthony, Magnus, Anthony, and Mike made their entrance as Kiss, it was an unforgettable moment. Anthony, my next door neighbor (a.k.a. Ace Freeley) said he actually felt like a rock star all night. Other notable costumes were the guys dress as 70s tennis stars and Charlie's Angels.
Surrounding the cake you can see the honored quartogenarians - Anna, Jeanine, Kathleen, Sonya, Anthony, and Mike. With over one hundred guests, the party was a huge success and one of the most fun occassions we have ever experienced.
#300 Ironman 2
A little fun for the boys today - I took Joseph, Marco, and three of their friends to see Ironman 2 at the Suzhou Science & Cultural Arts Center. You can see our boys posing with their friends Owen, Brodie, and Owen in front of the movie poster.
An interesting translation - the Chinese name for Ironman, 钢铁侠 (gang tie xia), translates literally as "steel hero".
The theater is more frequently having first run English language movies, so this is exciting for us. Alice in Wonderland is also currently showing - maybe I'll take the girls to that one next week.
We finished the afternoon off with a stop at the Mister Softee truck for a round of ice cream. The Mister Softee translation is even more interesting - 软心先生 (ruan xin xiansheng) translates as "Mister Soft Heart". There was an article recently in the NY Times titled "Mr. Softee Sets Sights on China and Beyond" about the Mr. Softee business in Suzhou.
An interesting translation - the Chinese name for Ironman, 钢铁侠 (gang tie xia), translates literally as "steel hero".
The theater is more frequently having first run English language movies, so this is exciting for us. Alice in Wonderland is also currently showing - maybe I'll take the girls to that one next week.
We finished the afternoon off with a stop at the Mister Softee truck for a round of ice cream. The Mister Softee translation is even more interesting - 软心先生 (ruan xin xiansheng) translates as "Mister Soft Heart". There was an article recently in the NY Times titled "Mr. Softee Sets Sights on China and Beyond" about the Mr. Softee business in Suzhou.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
#299 Kathleen's 40th
Kathleen's birthday is on Cinco de Mayo, Mexican Independence Day. She had an eventful day with celebrations that started at the morning bus stop and continued at her aerobics class, lunch, dinner at our local Mexican restaurant (Zapatas had a Cinco Party), and finally brownies and presents. The only interruption was an 8:00PM conference call with Caterpillar Peoria.
Kathleen's friend Paige had the birthday celebration banner made in photo 2 above. Kathleen's big birthday gift was a new, shiny red Giant bicycle fully tricked out with a water bottle, digital speedometer, and kryptonite lock. Check it out as Kathleen and kids (in pajamas) took the new bike for a spin around the Jin Shui Wan neighborhood.
Kathleen's friend Paige had the birthday celebration banner made in photo 2 above. Kathleen's big birthday gift was a new, shiny red Giant bicycle fully tricked out with a water bottle, digital speedometer, and kryptonite lock. Check it out as Kathleen and kids (in pajamas) took the new bike for a spin around the Jin Shui Wan neighborhood.
Happy Birthday Kathleen !
#298 Mobile Pet Store
Here is a business you won't find in the U.S. - a Mobile Pet Store on the back of a tricycle. This guy is biking around with a 20 gallon fish tank, about 20 goldfish in bowls, plus several rabbits, birds, and turtles for sale. It also looks like he had picked up a few groceries on his way home. Actually, it doesn't look like he had sold much - it was late in the day and the shop was still full of animals. This "only in China" moment brought to you by Caterpillar.
#297 Fancy Maria
May is the birthday season in our house. Maria turns six on the sixth and Kathleen turns 40 on the fifth. Maria for months has asked "how long until my birthday" and more recently was into asking "how many more days" and finally even "how many more hours".
Monday, May-1st was a holiday in China (International Labor Day), so Maria held her "Fancy Nancy Teaparty" birthday party for eight of her closest five and six year old girlfriends. Kathleen and Juliana helped her host it while the boys were invited to find something else to do as long as it was out of the way.
Fancy Nancy is a book character who likes to wear fancy clothes and use long fancy words when short, common ones will do. The girls all came dressed in fancy dress, wore feather boas, painted their nails, drank tea, danced, and read a Fancy Nancy book. By all reports, the party was a great success. Maria, as you can see above, was a very happy girl, and best of all, Maria's birthday is now past us, at last.
Monday, May-1st was a holiday in China (International Labor Day), so Maria held her "Fancy Nancy Teaparty" birthday party for eight of her closest five and six year old girlfriends. Kathleen and Juliana helped her host it while the boys were invited to find something else to do as long as it was out of the way.
Fancy Nancy is a book character who likes to wear fancy clothes and use long fancy words when short, common ones will do. The girls all came dressed in fancy dress, wore feather boas, painted their nails, drank tea, danced, and read a Fancy Nancy book. By all reports, the party was a great success. Maria, as you can see above, was a very happy girl, and best of all, Maria's birthday is now past us, at last.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
#296 Island B
Warm springtime weather has recently arrived in Suzhou. Joseph and I took advantage on Saturday to do some canoeing on Jinji Lake. It had been well over a year since our last voyage - time flies in China. Our destination was the second smaller island in Jinji Lake named (according to our map of Suzhou) "Island B". You can it's location relative to our house on the map about. The distance is probably 1.5 miles over water from our house, a paddle of maybe 30 minutes.Island B is small and seemingly inhabited by a single family who I presume are responsible for the landscaping and the maintenance. We tied up at a small dock and had the treat of seeing the water fountain show start up across the water at Rainbow Walk.
But probably, the most notable part of our visit to Island B was the friendly flock of chickens that followed us around on our exploration hike. We assume that these birds belong to the people who live on the island and are part of the food supply. The birds followed us everywhere, but seemed to know better than to follow us out onto the dock.
#295 Morning Drive
Greetings again Cazzato blog fans. Sorry for the long absence. I got an email today from my old friend Cathy V which prompted me back to the computer for a fresh blog entry. It seems that a couple of months have slipped by since my last contribution and there are some new developments on which I can provide some update. With a three day weekend here in China, I have no excuse not to write today.First, a couple photos that I took on the way to work last week. The Chinese are the original frugal recycling society. It is quite common to see these blue trucks traveling with huge (barely secured) loads of flattened cardboard boxes. Thursday morning one of the intersections on Xin Dai Da Dao was backed up with traffic with the cause being a a cardboard hauler. Either too much speed on the left turn or too little lashing on the truck load left a large pile of cardboard in the middle of the intersection. I asked my driver to stop the van so I could get a good iPhone photo.
The next morning commute photo is a shot of one of the many decorative spots popping up to promote the 2010 Shanghai World Exposition which opened yesterday in Shanghai.
In other news, Caterpillar recently asked us to extend our assignment in China. The original three year plan has us scheduled to return to the U.S. this summer, but now we will stay at least until year-end 2010. There is some new project work related to motor grader cost reduction that needs some expat leadership from me. We had already told my boss that we were equally happy at this stage to stay longer in China, so we have agreed and look forward to an extended China adventure.
In other news, Caterpillar recently asked us to extend our assignment in China. The original three year plan has us scheduled to return to the U.S. this summer, but now we will stay at least until year-end 2010. There is some new project work related to motor grader cost reduction that needs some expat leadership from me. We had already told my boss that we were equally happy at this stage to stay longer in China, so we have agreed and look forward to an extended China adventure.
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