the apple does not fall far from the tree

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We are watching the Olympics!  yes indeed, the Olympics live from London.  NBC is streaming live events and we get some weird non-prime time events.  Lots of choices of events that start early in the morning in London and apparently a lot of the qualification heats do just that.  I expect later we will be watching some tape delay.  

Badminton qualifying rounds, volleyball, basketball (not USA), swimming, dressage, equestrian eventing, team handball and so on.  These events start early in London and are early evening here for us.  We love 'em.  The kids are interested in which country, especially if America, China, Russia (Isaac likes Russia -it shows up large on their world map-) Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, and a few other nations garner special attention.   , 

 Equestrian Eventing this evening was especially spell binding with the horses jumping over various fences, hurdles and such and often ridden by women (it must have been a good event Prince Harry, Kate and Princess Anne were in attendance).

 The kids got interested in watching the clock for the 83 seconds allowed for the jumping round and penalty points for knocking over a fence rail or such.

Julianna, stayed glued.  The attention span of the others waned, not Julianna's

 She agonized over lost points in dressage, celebrated finishes in the top three in swim heats, and in general really, really likes the Olympics- all the events.  She even says "oh no not another commercial" (that I think may have come from something I said?)

 Laura reminded me that in 1984, she remembers Mary Lou Retton in the Los Angeles summer games as a big star, and that she, Laura, watched the games intently - even to the point of the other evening picking up on comment I made about "Bulgarian Judges".

I do remember seeing in our attic a scrap book poster of Mary Lou of cut outs from Sports Illustrated and other magazines that Laura made.  Laura was 8 months older than Julianna is now back in August of 1984 for those LA Olympics.  This apple in these photos has indeed fallen very close to a very familiar tree.

Shao Cao

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That is a Shao Cao motorcycle(?) cart(?) three wheeled motor cart (probably) -- I need to find out what they call three wheeled vehicles because there are a lot of them, — I do not know what we would call it in English do you?  But I do know that it serves very good "street food".  This is the cart about closed up and ready to go home for the evening.

 and this is open and ready for business.  It is referred to as Chinese BBQ by at least one of the Chinese guys I was eating with.  I would not refer to it as BBQ but it is his country so he gets the call.

 a variety of meats, vegetables, fish, tofu, and other things are cooked over charcoal and coated with a variety of very hot sauces and peppers.

 Here my order only partially on the grill of mushrooms, (in the air on the way to the grill), potatoes, beef, pork green beans, zucchini, squash, and a kind of bread completed my order.  This Shao Cao cart is worth going back to and I will do a full Restaurant Review when Patt gets here which is SOON,

some of daily life

I think I have mentioned that Julianna is really good with Luke.  All of the kids are, but Julianna is the only one who can and does pick him up and quiet him when he gets fussy on occasion.  She is going to have to get stronger quickly to keep it up.  He is growing fast.

 Matt took this photo, note the left shoulder, I did not spill my drink nor stand under a leaking gutter.  I was holding a world champion slobberer on my shoulder.  That is him saying "Who me?"  Yep that would be you bud.

 and I do enjoy reading to the kids.  They are a great audience though shortly after this photo and despite Isaac's bright eyes, he fell asleep.  Apparently the umpteenth reading of Charlotte's Web or Stuart Little or something didn't keep him awake.  I am known to "dress up" a reading with accents, new characters, digressions, and other such interpretative readings.  They are always noted and most often not really appreciated.  (I like to make sure everyone is awake, paying attention — and entertain myself too)

a lot to remind you of the old country

The past several days I have been out walking in the evenings, and one evening recently I took my camera with the telephoto lens.  These first couple of shots are down the river front park road that is in front of our apartment complex.  Just back to the left are the apartment buildings where Patt and I have our place and to the right it the river.  In the evening, many of us take our exercise walk or social outing.  

 I spotted these two from a way off and suspect they may have a story to tell.  They also probably do not live in the apartment complex.

 These two may well be neighbors—

 I would bet that these two live in the complex.  The young woman had just taken my picture and turned back around.  I said "hello" and they turned back into this pose.  We both were shooting photos down the road.  I was off the road and a little less obvious than she(?) - as if I could be less obvious.

In another park nearby where there is lots and lots going on I saw this woman going through a complex tai chi (I think) routine) to the accompaniment of music in a corner of the park.  The long lens helped not intrude.

 The park is crowded and this spot only looks isolated.  Just behind those bushes is a children's play area.

 and back at Matt and Laura's, front door, the local cardboard collector with his three wheeled bicycle cart - versions of which are omnipresent - had about collected a load.

Yeah, I think he about has a load.  Now time to go get on the highway.

the big box store

yesterday I went to Ikea with the Three Bigs.  Laura took Luke to a doctor's appointment (he is well, inoculated, and a hair under 16 pounds) and they were to join us later for a little shopping and dinner in the cafeteria.  

 The Three and I had a grand time.  Ikea here makes any big box store on a big city street you have been in look like a small tiny "stop n rob" on a county road.  The crowd resembled a State Fair crowd as far as size goes and the layout of the store is decidedly maze.   If it is not in the store you do not need it.  Much of what they have you do not need either.

 There is a huge children's furniture area, and well, we were getting bored (and this was one of our destinations) and I sorta let them — well you get the picture

 They did indeed have a good time.  (I did discourage standing in the beds and they complied) and there were moments when they were relatively ignored by the passing crowds.

There were also moments when indeed they did seem to garner lots of onlookers.

 Occasionally coming closer to see if indeed these were for real little children I reckon.

 Some though were intent on completing their own purchase order.

 And in the toy area, there were to many toys to even comprehend.

 I would have looked at them too —the kids not the toys —  they are awfully cute if you ask me and worth taking a picture of.  and apparently I am not the only person who thinks so.

Count 'em,!   —   three different people taking photos (Lydia, I think), one photographer has a huge Nikon, the other two with iPhone type cameras.  They were photographed many hundreds times just that I saw.  They were a bit of an oddity in the store in addition to being good looking kids.   In the whole day I only  saw one other western woman with two older children and  one other western looking man— otherwise we were it.  Just another day in the petri dish.   I think Isaac is in the blue chair with cover pulled down.  They do get tired of the attention — but other times ignore it far better than I do.

out with the kids

went out with the kids and Matt on Saturday.  Matt took some photos.  Here I am going on the offensive in talking with a grandmother.  I am introducing my grandchildren to her.  She speaks less English than I speak Chinese and I am speaking in English.  I have found that if I am to passive, the Grandmothers will be all over us in trying to talk at us, to us and to the kids, so I just start talking to them.  Amazes the kids, they point out that they (the Chinese old person) does not understand me.  I point out that I do not understand them- the old Chinese person-  so it makes us even. 

Sometimes they -the Chinese old persons - outnumber me and overwhelm me.  Then I beat a hasty retreat, talking all the time.  

We do not travel incognito like Jason Bourne through Paris or the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in Switzerland.  See photos below.  We are not going to pass unseen or un-commented on.

  

Lydia and I on an errand.  I really like this street.  It is so typical of what I think this place looks like, lots and lots of shops selling a mix of whatever and a variety of restaurants selling just a food that is just a shade above street food.   No tourists are here today, none were here yesterday nor will any be here tomorrow.

This photo I really like,  -- it captures a lot of what I think this place looks like too.  The size is of the place is overwhelming.  I forget just how big it is.  That is our apartment complex behind me.  That building on the corner is just one of 26 buildings.  It is 17 stories high.  It is a typical apartment complex, perhaps even a little small.

 The intersection behind us is incredibly wide, perhaps eight wide traffic lanes wide - nothing special there, the traffic light is just a guide, something scary there, also typical, fortunately the intersection is one of the less used ones as that is a dead end at the river just past our apartments and there is an even larger road just a long two blocks up the street with an elevated highway over it that carries most of the area's traffic.  As I have tried to convey this place is eye popping large.

Luke letting you know he is here

I remember visiting with Matt and Laura when Isaac was small and Laura wondering with justification if Isaac would talk or not simply because his older two sisters were doing so very much talking.  Isaac could have legitimately decided that it was not necessary to talk as his older siblings were leaving  little being unsaid, commented on, questioned, occasionally fought over, or thought not being shared.  Isaac joined the fray. He talks too.  Often loudly- no wonder why - so the din is constant.

this is in a house that does not get cable for TV, (Laura says thankfully)(I add "can you imagine even more sound?).  

Well, Luke apparently has already made his decision.  Check out this video of Luke (there is of course background noise- there is always background noise).  

This is not a random moment for Luke   This is frequent and regular.  There are several features of the video that illustrate trademarks of his.  The slobber generation, the smile, and the sounds.  He has more.  and check the volume.  You might want to turn your computer volume down just a bit.

he really is quite the big boy and has one great skill

This is Luke, four months old, strong as he can be, and big, goodness he is big.

 Expressive too as is obvious below.

 The talent however is drooling.  We are high skill level drooling  ability.  Quantity is not a problem, supply apparently limitless.

 Wet down most anything in relative short order too while making a lot of sounds.  Loud, sounds, not so much words yet, but plenty vocal.

 And I kept on taking pictures and never did get one of his laugh, or big smile which really is fun to see.  That is coming though so stay tuned.  Serious is fun too though and he does have rather big eyes.

well it was a very full day

 These first two days here have been full and a blur.  Twenty eight hours of travel and being around four grandchildren will make things a bit of a blur and full. Travel was easy as it has been - it is just a long way here.  The old question "how many more miles till we get there" never seemed more appropriate but think 'hours on this flight segment" rather than "miles" with the question and you begin to get the idea.

 Yesterday the three bigs, Matt and I went out for a bike ride, and of course picked up an observer or two.  Here we are on the river road that serves one of the apartment complexes and is a dead end and perfect for bike rides and such.

 Just a bit further down the road is a bridge that certainly was a good place to throw rocks from which of course we did.  

 Followed by the obligatory spitting.  So somewhere approaching the Yangtzee River Dam, just past the Three Gorges spit from the five of us is flowing toward the Pacific.

 On our return Julianna and Lydia rode ahead, they are in the distance, and those apartments in the overcast gloomy weather of this part of the world is the apartment  complex where Patt and I have an apartment. The complex is now "built out" so the construction that was such a big part of living there is in the past.  This river front park like space is also complete and is quite extensive going all the way to the end of the complex in the distance.

it was a rainy 4th

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on the 4th of July into the 100 + degree heat fell torrents of rain.  Our cul-de-sac at times was hardly visible and the lightning and thunder show was spectacular.  

The grill had been moved to the front in anticipation of the backyard being too hot as the east - shaded — side of our house is marginally cooler in the afternoon.  This particular afternoon it did not matter.  It was doing some serious raining.  

 The deck, that Patt and I had cleaned, arranged with newly planted flowers, (Patt), freshly put up umbrellas (Paul) was ready for a guest to at least venture onto prior to retreating back into our A/C'd house.

However, our elegantly appointed and furnished garage turned out to be the prime gathering place of our guests.  The rain cooled the afternoon off considerably, the lightning and thunder show as previouisly mentioned was indeed special, and the wind and rain came part way into the garage pushing us back from the entrance further into the  elegance of our car park.

 We did have a grand time celebrating a host of events, among those being of course the 4th, Jeff's birthday, the return of Kelly, Beth, James, Maddie and Amanda and Paul to the US of A and recent spate of good news coming our way such as Big E's job, and of course the great news of new arrivals to our family.

Food was pretty special too. 

(note the red white and blue)

last full day done right in Panama

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Let me tell you this day started just right.  I am waking up at Stephen and Jen's (have moved as Jen's Mom now has the apartment Patt and I had) and I have just opened my computer and email dings from Jen asking if I am up for a grandson.  Well am I ever.  "we have a winner"  and that would be me.  check this out.  ole Raleigh snuggled down and felt so nice.  Yep a good way to start my last day here on this trip.

 He has been sick the past two days, quite distressed, crying a lot and obviously very uncomfortable - well mid afternoon as you can see from the expression below, he feels a lot better

 thinks I tell funny stories

and thinks I tell interesting tall tales

 continues to be the attentive listener

now thinks I went on a bit to long

 We also posed for photos with Guerra, one of the building guards with whom we enjoy visiting.  Each of us is wearing a hat that was a gift.  I of course gave the Bulls hat to Guerra, he the Panamanian cowboy hat to me and the stocking cap to Raleigh because he thought Jen was risking his health by taking him out in the evening when it was about to "dew".

Yes, you know how rapidly the temperature drops here in Panama when the evening draws nigh.  It may get down to about 91 or so.  People start putting on coats and jackets.  Note Guerra is wearing a t-shirt today at mid-day when the "feels like" is above 100.  We took the stocking cap off as soon as we were on the elevator headed back up stairs and out of threat of dew — that moisture that forms summer mornings on the grass--- yes that stuff.  ( but you do have to be glad people are looking out for you)

 and we also posed for a photo to know Grandad and Grandson are in Panama

it has been a wonderful trip.