Elon Punks Trump, Bobblehead Ben, and the American People

A big winner in the passage of the Continuing Resolution was Elon Musk because of the elimination of a provision limiting certain American investments in China. His devious plans for AI and other high tech investments in China will now go unchecked in spite of the astronomical security risks involved. His proximity to Trump gave him this billion dollar bonus in spite of Trump promises to crack down on China both for economic reasons and for national security.

Musk punked both Trump and the Congress and screwed the U.S.A. This is the beginning of a corrupt relationship between the autocratic twins. Are you okay with this corrupt cronyism Bobblehead Ben?

China Trip #6

Dateline Shanghai: January 11, 2010

Breakfast at the Jin Gong Jin Jiang Hotel was similar to those we enjoyed in Beijing. A buffet with a range of western and Chinese foods. The Chinese “pancakes” were excellent as were the sauteed greens, roasted new potatoes, and other veggies. Dumplings are varied and interesting but kind of gummy - perhaps a hazard of sitting in a warmer for too long (although we were the first ones there). The ox tripe soup broth was flavorful but I couldn’t quite get past the chewy texture and mental image. Again, the bacon wasn't the best, but the fruit juices were a bit more like those found in the U.S.

We boarded an early bus for the trip to Shanghai Lixin University of Commerce. A dreary day with mist and snow showers, we gradually left the more urban aeas of Shanghai and went through more rural areas. Still there were industrial parks, newer housing/apartment complexes, and signs of new construction along the way. For example, we went past a tractor/heavy equipment manufacturer with dozens of bright yellow machines lined up.

We also passed by what appeared to be farming areas, but it was difficult to tell much in the middle of winter. Many of the homes we could see from the bus were fairly large but plain and in need of fresh paint - it is unclear to me if they were single or multi family. Most had the entire yard planted in gardens with various greens in raised beds.

There were clusters of "farmhouses" most of which had the area around the house dedicated to gardens and sometimes a small pond. Most houses lacked shutters or other ornaments.

Located in a university “park,” Shanghai Lixin University of Commerce was very modern. The building we visited was large and housed a library and class/conference rooms. We were “treated” to a lecture by a renowned professor of commerce who, like some teachers in the U.S. was wedded to his Power Point. While his English was quite good, there was still some language delay and other communication issues. His long lecture on China’s economic growth, GDP, income, etc. was interesting, but way too long and immersed in numbers for the purposes of our group. There were no student questions, but a couple were posed by the teachers. I asked about growing income disparity in China and what social probleme may occur as a result and what policies wer in place to deal with those left out. He didn’t seem to want that question, but acknowledged it is a problem, talked about a few government programs to address it, and said those individuals who were reapng the benefits should step up with more charity.

From the steps of the library we could see the soccer and athletic fields. On this cold/wet day at the end of exams and beginning of break, there were few students outside. Soccer and basketball are popular sports and we often saw the NBA logo on products (including beer) and on TV sets such as in airports.

We were greeted by two students, one male and one female. Both were nice looking young adults with great English skills. They took us on a dorm tour and joined us for lunch at the KFC located in a row of shops and restaurants that serve the students. By U.S. standards the dorms ware crowded, cold, and spartan. Four students in a room about 12 by 18 feet, one small electric space heater allowed, with slatted “loft” style beds that are tiny compared to those I’d prreviously seen. The students bring their own pad and comforter. There is a toilet room on each floor that also has a large wash-style sink that students use to wash larger items. Down the hall is a small washing machine but no dryer. Showers were on the first floor. In the dorm lobby are boxes resembling mailboxes but were actually boxes for daily delivery of milk to individual students.

Dorm rooms were small and didn't have the abundance of posters and decorations on walls and doors that is typical of an American college.

Dorm room neatness and cleanliness is graded and the scores posted on a chalkboard in the lobby. If scores are low, students may be called out in front of the class by the professor. If low scores persist, it was implied that there could be more dire consequences.

There were 15 t0 20 large dorms, all clones of this one, in the area. Rooms have balconies which, even on this rainy/snowy day, have clothes drying. The female student told my Chinese families "prefer sunshine." Courtyards and open areas are probably nice in the spring, but were raw today.

Student parking - for bicycles only. No students have cars. No parking issues at this university! Our guide told us that most Chinese have older bikes to deter theft.

We had lunch at a KFC in long row of shops and fast food places that service students in the dorms located just behind.Very busy and most of the young servers only knew broken English. (Our student guides had excellent English). We had French fries (just like in U.S.), a chicken wrap that came in spicy or sweet (got sweet) and included cucumber sliced lenghtwise, and a spicy beef wrapped in a pentagon shape with a sauce, lettuce and other veggies. In place of one of the fries we got a cup of a corn/pepper “relish” served cold with a creamy sauce. Pretty good!

KFC is the most popular American fast food chain. McDonald's second. You'll find items such as burgers and french fries with which you are familiar, but many things are modified for Chinese tastes. Hence, cucumber in place of pickles or lettuce and Chinese seasonings. Sometimes servings are smaller, too.

After lunch we boarded the bus and headed towards our next stop, an automobile manufacturing plant. Along the way were more rural scenes, rivers and canals used for shipping, plant nurseries, and construction. Along the highway we could seen large buildings, presumably factories, on both sides and in the distance.

When we got off the highway and on smaller roads we went through housing areas with apartments and small shops and stores. Yes, there was traffic, but many people walked or rode bikes and mopeds. No shopping centers or grocery stores like those we are used to, all small shops and street vendors. Most apartments are small, refrigerators are also small, so families shop every day or two. Of course, the store is often just a short walk or bike ride.

Hard for folks in the Shenandoah Valley to believe, but we didn't see one pickup truck the entire time in China. There are many trucks, most somewhat like the one in the picture. Some have cabs, or at least covers, while others have flatbeds with low sides. On the highways we saw lots of tractor-trailers (not as many as I-81), but all were smaller than American 18-wheelers. Most looked like our trucks of 50 years ago.

We arrived at the automobile manufacutring plant, Shanghai Maple, that builds cars mostly for the rural Chinese market. It was located in an industrial park with other factories. Shanghai Maple is part of Geely Automotive that recently acquired Volvo. Nice looking vehicles that could be clones of GM or Honda models. They also make London Taxi and other brands. The plant was modern, clean, and looked very efficient, although there wasn’t a lot of robotics replacing human labor. The company makes its own engines and perhaps some other major parts at nearby facilities.

Shanghai Maple's smallest car is nicknamed the "Panda" and if I recall correctly sells for about $10,000US.

This London Taxi line must be exported. We didn't see any in Beijing, Shanghai, or Hong Kong. Most taxis in Beijing were Hyundai or VW Jettas. It seemed all the taxis in Shanghai were Jettas - VW was the first major car manufacturer to locate in Shanghai and in return they got a corner on the taxi market there.

Is it an Accord or what? This Shanghai Maple model is a close copy of Japanese and American brands, something that has raised criticism for Chinese automakers who dodge R&D to focus on manufacturing as cheaply as possible. In an environment were knockoffs of watches, iPhones, and other consumer goods is common, I guess it says something that they at least aren't putting a western nameplate on the car.

Returning to Shanghai we went to a shopping district and had some free time to roam the mostly upscale stores, many with brands familiar to Americans - Nike, Levis, Rolex, etc.

Bright lights are suspended between elevators taking shoppers higher and higher in this urban mall. Stores like Toys R Us and Dickies are intermingled with jewelry, luggage, clothing, and other shops.

Bright city lights and shoppers filled the shopping areas of Shanghai.

That night we went to an acrobatic show and the very lush, plush, and upscale Ritz-Carlton Hotel. No pics were allowed. One of the students was picked to be the “target” in a knife throwing act. Most of the audience was western. Amazing show. You can see some representative pics and videos of the Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe at this website.

China Trip #5

Dateline Beijing/Shanghai: January 10, 2010

We left the hotel about 8:00 AM. As usual, street vendors were trying to sell us that last minute souvenir like a Chinese hat. As the bus pulled out, I saw outdoor ping pong tables down a side street, with a couple games in progress in spite of the 10°F temperatures. Because it was a Saturday and traffic was lighter, the trip to the airport went quickly. Airport check-in was much like that of any American airport but the security check seemed a bit more intense. For example, my glasses prompted a scan with a hand wand, something that did not happen in the U.S. Students had their small bottles of hand sanitizer confiscated.

The flight on China Eastern was much like a domestic flight in the U.S. Full plane. Flight attendants were all very young. Announcements were recorded in both Chinese and English rather than live. No safety announcement about airbags or floatation like is required on U.S. flights. The meal was totally Chinese food. It was a little bumpy because of weather - when we arrived in Shanghai it was raining and about 45°F.

After a bus ride on busy streets in which our guide told us how Shanghai was far more western than Beijing, we checked into the hotel. Again, our passports were collected. This is a very nice hotel with an atmosphere much like you'd experience anywhere in the U.S. After a short opportunity to catch our breath and get situated, we left on the bus to visit the Jade Buddha Temple. Raining lightly and chilly. We entered the courtyard to the smell of inscence and people praying. We toured the gardens and various rooms with statues of various buddhas and saw the two famous white jade Burmese Buddha statues.

The smell of incense filled the temple. A number of the faithful were there praying, observing, and getting in touch with their faith.

The gardens and courtyards of the temple were beautiful. We were allowed everywhere and photos were permitted in all areas except for the temple room itself.

The famous reclining Buddha.

Leaving the temple and throughout Shanghai there was lots of construction. The scaffolding is bamboo, something we often saw in Shanghai and in Hong Kong.

Shanghai city lights from the window of our hotel room.

Returning to the hotel we enjoyed a rather formal Chinese dinner on the 9th floor with the whole group. From my western pallette, likely being served a menu designed for Americans, it seems we are getting similar dishes at the restaurants. But, there is an incredible variety of tastes, textures, and styles. Will I ever master chop sticks?

China Trip #4

Working with a student teacher, getting ready for AARP TaxAide, and now training for census work. I'm finding blog-time scarce. Knowing that memories (especially mine) fade fast, I'm still organizing pictures and editing my journal. Slowly words and pics will make it here.

*****

Dateline Beijing, January 9, 2009

We left early this morning for a tour of a state owned steel mill. Starting with the obligatory company museum history tour much like a museum you might see at a large American factory. Points of emphasis included the fact that early equipment was mostly second hand from America or Europe and that an important part of the workers’ motivation was working hard for the good of the state. Reminding me of “factory or mine towns” in American history, the mill provided housing, recreation, stores, and schools to workers and their families. Newer equipment and more western incentives were introduced during the 1990s and, although still state-owned, the mill is operated more like those in other nations. They talked about their environmental stewardship, modernization, global products, and a new facility constructed on an island just off the coast. The guide from the company spoke in Chinese and was interpreted by a Chinese-American professor at Adelphi. I got the feeling we were being given the company, I mean the state, line.

Many of us felt the plant itself looked out-of-date and like something from the 1950s. Dirty. Smoky. Few employees around on this Saturday morning. We did see a control room with about 10 guys monitoring computer screens, but most of the rest seemed low-tech. Perhaps that is the nature of a steel mill?

That afternoon Hanna took the Virginia four to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Cold and sunny so many others were out and walking with family and friends. I’m sure everyone knows Tiananmen Square is immense, but it is hard to appreciate just how big it is without being there. We found one virtual geocache - our first in China! While taking the photo a Chinese girl and her mother approached and watched us for a minute, then pointed to my beard saying, “you look like the Merry Christmas man.” She asked to take a picture. Her picture is above.

Changing of the guards.

As we moved towards the entrance to the Forbidden City, Hanna went to get the tickets and left us to take pictures and two more couples approached us wanting pictures with the "Merry Christmas man" and we attracted a following for a short while.

The Forbidden City is so completely stunning, so ornate, so huge, one surprise following the last one. Nothing I can type here will capture its essence. Even my pictures fall short. We had to move fairly fast, but we stopped at all the main buildings for Hanna’s descriptions and to take a few pictures.

Hanna pauses to tell us a little history of the Forbidden City.

How many thrones does one guy need?

I had programmed the coordinates for a virtual geocache and as we got close it became apparent that it wasn’t in the main courtyards but off to the side in the maze of buildings and courtyards. I was with others who weren’t quite so interested in a side trip. Besides it was cold and we were tiring. But, 130 feet as the crow flies!! They grinned and tolerated me it as I darted into different alleys and luckily found it fairly quickly - a large (rock/mineral of some kind) that we understand was placed outside the bride’s marriage chamber.

The gardens near our exit from the Forbidden City were beautiful and stunning. The trees, the artificial rock wall, everything. Wish we could visit it in warmer months when it is lush and more colorful!

A guard tower, wall, and moat seen from outside the Forbidden City. Getting inside would have been tough.

We made a short visit to a Tea Room. As a Virginian my tea vocabulary is mostly "sweet tea" so there was much to learn. So many teas. So many tea pots. So many tiny cups. All very interesting, but I'll stick to iced tea.

That night Hanna led us through icy alleys to a small family-owned hot pot diner with half a dozen small tables filled with local families. She stayed to help us order a variety of of meats, vegetables, and fish before leaving for a dinner honoring a friend’s wedding. We had two hot pots boiling - one mild and one spicy. Very spicy. A few small bowls with different dipping sauces were scattered around the table. Struggling not only with chop sticks but with knowing cooking times, we dove into one of the most interesting and frustrating dinners of the entire trip. Never very good with chop sticks, I found retrieving some food items from the hot pots extremely difficult. Imagine trying to pick up a slippery marble-sized “fish ball.” The helpful owner came over, and with a smile, tried a couple times to tutor me (by hands-on demonstration - he knew only Chinese, I knew only English) in the fine art of chop sticks and hot pots. Maybe it was the two big bottles of Tsingtao beer that affected my coordination, but at least I didn’t need chop sticks to get it (the tiny glass of beer) into my mouth. My chop stick skill improved (never did get those fish balls) but must admit was greatly relieved when his daughter took sympathy and brought us forks. The entire meal for four,which included beer and soft drinks, cost us about 90 Chinese RMB, or just over $13.00.

Returning to the Dongfang Hotel, I found my way downstairs to the tiny bar thinking some of the Adelphi students might be there or at the nearby karaoke. I didn’t spot them but had a good time chatting with the young bartender whose English was very good. I ordered a Snow beer even as he told me his favorite beer is Budweiser. A quick glance at the cooler showed Bud, Corona, Bud Light and a few other American brands. The bartender wanted to talk “English,” that is talk about speaking English. He asked “do east coast Americans talk differently from west coast?” We had a good converstation about regional accents, pronounciation of a few words like “aunt,” and some slang usage. He commented that the most difficut English to understand is people from England and noted that Chinese like Americans much better than the English. It was reference I heard several times during our stay in Beijing.

China Trip #3

Interesting buffet breakfast at the Dongfang hotel. Some western foods but most was Chinese and very abundant and fresh. Of course, there were things we liked and things we didn’t especially care for... we tried almost everything over the three mornings we were there. Fruit juices were sweet and syrupy. Bacon was like the cheapest you'll find in the U.S. The guy making omelets was a pro. The sauteed greens were great as were all the fresh fruits.

We left for the Great Wall about 8:00 AM. Almost a two hour bus ride starting in very heavy traffic until we cleared the most urbanized areas of Beijing. Along the way our guide told us more about the Great Wall, about housing and other living conditions in Beijing, and about some of the things we passed along the route.

The Great Wall. Words cannot do justice to the overwhelming awe it inspires. Awe for the work over very difficult terrain. Awe for the immensity of it. Awe for the human lives sacrificed for its construction. We walked as far and high as time would permit, returning to the bus with only a few minutes to spare. A bitter cold day, probably 0° to 10°F, my mustache and beard was stiff with ice crystals. Along the way a teenage girl asked to take my picture, saying I looked like a Panda - probably because of my black hat contrasted with with white beard. My wife pointed out, mine and another in our group were the only beards to be seen.

In spite of the cold, there were many people walking, some elderly and others with small children. Some women in fashionable boots hardly designed for walking the steep steps and uneven stones of the Great Wall.

Returning to the bus and visitor center, some in the group enjoyed tea in the gift shop while others browsed the merchandise. There were abundant clerks who followed us, as soon as we showed interest in the item the clerk was there pushing the sale or offering alternatives. We saw pesky store clerks and overstaffing often, especially in and around Beijing. When checking into the hotel (late evening) there were three or four clerks (in the U.S. two would have been a surprise). Small teams of men would be chipping and shoveling snow along roads.

When we got back to Beijing we took a rickshaw ride through narrow streets and alleys and along a large frozen lake. We understand it is beautiful in the warmer months, brightly lit at night, and a popular area for locals to gather. Today though, it was bitter cold and mostly deserted.

Perhaps you can see the Budweiser sign on the restaurant. Often repeated. According to a young bartender at the Dongfang Hotel Bud is very popular. Ditto for other beers found in American stores - Corona, Coors Light, etc.

Okay, it was sort of a tourist thing to do, but the the rickshaw drivers seemed to appreciate the work and tips on this bitter day. When we arrived they were passing the time playing cards and playing hacky sack. And, trying to stay warm. Along the route they played pranks on each other, got a tow by holding the back of the rickshaw in front, and raced through the narrow alleys.

In Beijing and at the Great Wall we saw many wielding traditional brooms and garden shovels to remove snow from sidewalks and gutters. Just days before we arrived, Beijing had been brought to a near standstill by an unusually heavy snowfall and low temperatures kept most of it around. Most main roads had been plowed, but side streets and even some lanes of highways had significant snow cover.

In the urban areas, most Chinese live in apartment buildings like the one above. This one was nicer than many, but not as upscale as others. Many apartments, especially in lower income areas, are well under 1,000 square feet and often house multi-generation families. You often see clothes drying outside windows or on small balconies in apartments and dorms all over China. Looking for a place to live in Beijing - check these out.

Our Virginia group broke from the NY group since they had arrangements to meet students at a Chinese University. We caught a cab and went to the Pearl Market, a shopping area famous for haggling to set prices of both legitimate and knockoff goods. Five stories tall and with all sorts of vendors - watches, electronics, luggage, clothing, leather goods, on and on! The sellers were aggressive talking to us as we passed, waving items in our faces, the most aggressive grabbing our arms. We bought a few items, all probably knockoffs of name brands, and maybe good deals. Maybe not. While we haggled and made counter offers, we were clearly on their turf and this kind of negotiation is foreign to most Americans except for a yard sale. Plus, there is the whole currency conversion thing - in short, we probably shouldn’t have done this our very first day in Beijing. I bought a SwissGear backpack for about one third less than it is listed on Amazon and a Canon camera battery for about half the price as on Amazon. So far, both perform as if new, but time will tell, I reckon.

But we did fall prey to a minor scam. Coming out of the market we took a waiting taxi who said it would be 40 RMB or about $5.85. Since we didn’t know exactly where the restaurant was and we were in a hurry we jumped in. Turned out the restaurant was pretty close and the ride should have cost perhaps 15 RMB. Counterfeiting is a huge issue with RMBs and one of our bills he said was “no good,” but we told him it was all we had and he took it, probably to pass it on to another unsuspecting American in a dark cab. Our guide told us to avoid cabs that are parked near "tourist" areas and to always demand to see the meter (the driver said his was broken).

Dinner that evening was at a local restaurant famous for Peking Duck. We experienced the “joys” of the traditional lazy susan which perhaps was a good thing as we became quickly acquainted with students from Adelphi University on Long Island. I ordered a Yanjing beer that came in a large bottle (500 ml, I think) but the glass provided was small - about twice the size of of a shot glass.

In addition to the food likes and dislikes, much of the conversation centered on the day's travel adventures and misadventures, the morning at the Great Wall, and some of the cultural differences we’d observed at the hotel and local shops. One of the NY students said she was very surprised at a local shop, “yeah, they had like cigarettes, water, condoms, and dildos right at the checkout. You don’t see that back home?

China Trip #2

We been home a few days - seems like we've gone thru a time warp... "Governor Bob McDonnell" just doesn't roll off the tongue well. The governor wants to sell the ABC stores for a one-time windfall, is looking the other way as public education (a cornerstone of economic growth and jobs creation) is withering due declining state support, and wants us to drive 70 mph on I-81.

Well, he is reopening the rest areas, but with no solid plans except a hopeful "adopt-a-rest area" scheme and having guys in orange scrub the urinals. After seeing that, some folks may keep on by the rest area at 70 mph.

Anyhow, it always amazes me how much catch-up is needed on the home front after being gone for a couple weeks. Plus, I missed the AARP TaxAide training and have been going through the slow online recertification process... torture. While my schedule continues to be hectic, I'm finding a little time to get back to CCC and posting about our trip. Will include a few of the nearly 1,000 pictures I took. In between, I'll toss in my 2¢ about goings on in the Valley and Commonwealth.

*****

Dateline Chicago and Beijing, January 8/7, 2010

Flight from Chicago was smooth and followed route over Hudson Bay, near North Pole, and over Siberia. Plane full, economy class crowded but everyone in good humor. Then the check-in procedures at the airport includes a quick health screening, a walk thru infrared scanner checking body temps, and a long line waiting to have passport/visa checked. A few people were pulled aside and questioned briefly about a stuffy nose or cough. Finally able to grab checked luggage and meet our guide, “Hanna.” The airport was super clean and utilitarian. Little commercialization such as found in U.S. airports until we went through the gauntlet of duty free shops on way out. While security is evident in the U.S. it is more obvious at the Beijing airport, most of them younger, in uniform, and most wearing (useless) masks.

Trip to hotel was through rush hour traffic some on a toll road that was moving (but not as fast as in U.S.) and lots of stop and go as we approached the central city. We were picked up in a Buick van and saw a few other American cars such as Jeep. Roads dominated by Asian brands such as Honda, Toyota and Hyundai but there were many VW’s and most taxi cabs seemed to be Jettas or Hyundai. Hanna pointed out things along the way but because we were so tired and there was a bit of a language barrier I’m not sure how much sank in. Reminded us of travel in the congested areas of NJ turnpike.

A few other early impressions along toll road and highway:

• Many of the cars were upscale.
• Impatient drivers, lots of horn tooting, swerving back and forth into lanes.
• Buildings along road seemed darker than you’d find in a US city - less outside lighting.
• Every now and then caught the smell of burning coal and noticed some smokestacks.
• Glad I am not driving. Very glad.

As we approached the central part of Beijing, where we are staying, there were more bright signs and we saw far more people on streets, among shops, etc. Hanna pointed out Tiananmen Square, the Great Hall of the People, and other places we plan to visit.

Arrived at the Dongfang Hotel and checked in. Of course, that meant checking and scanning our passport/visa again. Rooms are nice and have some western touches... with differences. For example the mattress is, compared to US, thin and hard... but pretty comfortable... or maybe we were just whipped! Pillows are a wider, thinner rectangle and seem to be the husk filled type. Room was very warm although it is very cold outside. Room key is slipped into receptacle just inside door to activate room electricity, so lights shut down when you leave the room and take key card. Not used to this style shower and curtain and made a mess. Like western hotels they provide soap and shampoo but no lotion. In addition to shower cap they provide slippers, toothbrush and paste, combs, and a condom. That prompted lots of chatter among the student in our group, especially since it was there only on the first night. TV (not a flat screen) has a bunch of channels but it looks like just three in English – China business, BBC Asia, and a old movie channel.

Our first meal in China was pizza. Yep, pizza. But, we'd arrived late and there was little time to head out for some Chinese - imagine we'll have plenty of that over the next few days. The pizza was good, about like take-out here. The Tsingtao beer was cold.

China Trip #1

We've been traveling in China. Beijing, Shanghai, and now in Hong Kong. Of course, blogs and social networking were blocked on the mainland, but here in Hong Kong we might as well be anywhere in the U.S. (except for a public school). So, my posts will be added late. Here goes. Better late than never. Pardon typos and grammar.

Chicago, January 6, 2010 Ah, the joys of modern air travel. Sitting in O’Hare Airport waiting to board United 581 to Beijing. Taking a Boeing 777 that seats 251. Right now, 235 are checked in. Of course, we’re flying economy which includes two lunches and a movie. Yippee. The flight is just under 14 hours and 6579 miles.

The weather in Beijing is sunny and 1°F. Just a tad colder than here.

Yesterday was supposed to be our flight, but the leg from Reagan/National to Chicago was delayed due to a maintenance issue and by the time we got to Chicago the Beijing flight had left. So, United put us up for the night and bought us a (modest) dinner. We walked in the cold Chicago winds and found a geocache. Slept well, but the hotel air was very dry which affected everyone's’ breathing and skin.

I will say the United staff was helpful and handled our (and everybody else) with grace and good humor. Ditto for the TSA folks. Most travelers were relaxed and handled all the hurry up and wait with smiles. It is easy to get a little impatient with those folks who didn’t check online or with a travel agent to adhere to luggage requirements. A group of four guys took about twice as long in the check-in in repacking and rearranging. But, we had no place to go anyhow so I engaged in a favorite pass time - people watching.

Back in the Shenandoah Valley, people watching reveals more diversity than it did just a few years ago. But, you haven’t seen diversity until you’ve hung out in a big airport for a while. It is a big and wonderfully varied world in which we live and travel. In addition to the people there’s the languages, the clothes, the types of luggage..... the everything.

OK, boarding the plane. Don't know when I'll be able to post this.