Okay, huh. I'm definitely a mostly-leftie, except for which hand I use for writing and cooking and cutting things up with scissors. Human bodies are weird.

Hi everyone, I'm posting from Shanghai. We're in a 2-star hotel that nonetheless has excellent and apparently free internet connection. (And a second room for Ryan to sleep in, this is actually very comfortable, if a little cramped.)

We've caught up with Biyi's parents, so good to see them again. We then had dinner with said parents, and Biyi's big aunt plus family. She's a lovely woman - she knits, and has sent Ryan a steady supply of jumpers and other clothes. (She is also the one with the drama llama for a son, whom I have now also met. Friendly guy.) Biyi was very happy to see them - it's been five years since last she was in China (when we got married, in fact).

In sadder news, her little aunt's husband is in hospital. He has cancer, and it's spread. The outlook isn't good. We'll be going to the hospital tomorrow. (Ryan won't be going in, too distressing.)

Oh, speaking of Ryan - our little guy was such a trooper. We left for the airport yesterday a half hour after his normal bedtime. He chattered nonstop for the entire car trip about how we were going to China and we'd see Waigong and Waipo and we were going to fly on a big plane and he'd sleep on the plane between mummy and daddy and we were going to Hong Kong and then Shanghai and then Hangzhou and did I mention about the big plane and then we were at the airport. He stayed excited (and thoroughly alert) all the way to boarding (at 11:45 pm) before finally conking out once we'd had dinner and they turned the lights off.

We, on the other hand, didn't get much sleep, because two rows away there was a family with three kids, one of whom was emphatically not enthused about the flight experience, and howled near constantly for about three hours. And started up again periodically thereafter. I don't say this with any kind of bad feeling directed towards them; they did their best, and with kids that small, sometimes there's just nothing to be done. Still, end result - ye gods we were tired when we got into Hong Kong. (It caught up to Ryan too, he had a bit of a meltdown in the taxi from Shanghai airport).

We got an afternoon nap and feel human again, and it really is very pleasant to be here and be able to catch up with the in-laws (and show Ryan off). He's been pretty shy, and didn't want cuddles with the big aunt, but did blow them kisses when they left.

And now here I am in the hotel room at 10 pm, realising that - genius that I am - I left my computer's power cord at home. The in-laws have a computer (and internet connection), so once we move on to their place it may matter less, but I may yet wind up disappearing for a few days.

yay for a decent trip and seeing family billy tea!

Sounds like Ryan's a terrific traveller!

If BT sees this, I am curious -- big aunt and little aunt?

Is that like great-aunt vs. aunt, or older (in age) aunt vs younger aunt?

Hello, Shanghai!! Glad Ryan did well on the trip.

OMG, the pirate pub crawl was SO MUCH FUN. Pirates and sailors doing hip hop line dance in the middle of Bourbon Street, two live parrots, over fifty people in awesome pirate costumes, undead pirates, a little light flogging, tourists wanting to take pictures with us... I think I'm going to have to join the Krewe. People came from all over the States to join in.

Glad the trip went well, bt. Can you buy an extra computer charger?

Am I crazy for contemplating a move to Italy? Too soon to be making major life decisions, keeping in mind that any such move would take a while to pull off?

OMG, the pirate pub crawl was SO MUCH FUN. Pirates and sailors doing hip hop line dance in the middle of Bourbon Street, two live parrots, over fifty people in awesome pirate costumes, undead pirates, a little light flogging, tourists wanting to take pictures with us... I think I'm going to have to join the Krewe. People came from all over the States to join in.

t desperately searches for "like" button.

Tom and I are experimenting with getting up at our normal weekday time over the weekend to see if that helps our sleep patterns for the week. I'm kinda sleepy, but we have a quiet day (yesterday was chill too) so it's fine.

In exciting news, we bought a little charcoal grill/smoker yesterday! We have a grill again! Man, we've missed that. To celebrate we got a cut of steak that is ideal for the grill, and we haven't cooked it at home since moving here- the flank steak! I also got Tom a nice thick skin on wild trout fillet to try to smoke.

The day is GORGEOUS - helps the mood immensely. Also, GRILL!!!!!!

Am I crazy for contemplating a move to Italy? Too soon to be making major life decisions, keeping in mind that any such move would take a while to pull off?

I don't think you're crazy at all! (says the lady who decided to chuck it all to move to New Orleans 'cause she felt like it.) I mean, it doesn't need to be permanant- if it doesn't work out, you can always move back to be with your family.

I cannot speak to the best way of processing such intense grief, but from what you've said here, you are unhappy with your job and can't sleep in your own bed at home (which I totally get)... maybe a big change would help with the process? A spiritual renewal of sorts? Finding your place in this new world? Wiser Buffistas, am I like giving the worst advice in the world?

Are you putting your house on the market for short sale?

Maria, I think because a move like that would take some time to put together, why not? Start looking into it, seeing what you might need to do it. If nothing else, it will give you something to focus on for the time being.

Just keep in mind how much you might miss your family here, you know?