Hodge Podge

I thought of calling this post "weekend update", but I knew it wouldn't be nearly as funny as SNL's version of "Weekend Update". So, here's a hodge podge of thoughts/things seen/experienced.

--I've been thinking a lot these days about traveling home to Illinois for Christmas. This afternoon I went to Starbucks to grade some papers and spend time with friends. We were rather confused when the music switched over to Christmas tunes. As Meg Ryan says in Sleepless in Seattle, "it's a sign". Okay maybe not...but we got a kick out of the early holiday celebration.

--I'm in the process of "training" for the Beijing Half Marathon. I wouldn't call it hard core training as it's hard for me to keep up with a schedule during the school week; however, a friend and I have been faithful to run at 7 on Saturday mornings. This weekend we ran from our apartments to the river and walked back. It turned out to be almost three hours total (1.5 hours running/walking the remainder). I cannot tell you how many times I wish I had my camera with me while running. The city is alive with people and activity early in the morning. Little breakfast carts pop up everywhere with people making egg sandwiches, breakfast porridge and other early morning delicacies. There are days when I wake up and would rather sleep in, but I have to say that these early morning runs give me an opportunity to see quite a glimpse of China and her people.

--While I'm talking about running, I cannot tell you how many times people have stared at me or the group with whom I'm running. I'm waiting for the day that we cause a bike crash or something because people have craned their necks to contine watching us run.

--People here like to decorate their cars with cartoon character paraphanelia. Hello Kitty, Mickey Mouse, Tweety Bird, Winnie the Pooh--you name it, it's here. I think my favorite is when a middle aged taxi driver pulls up and his car interior is decked out with Winnie the Pooh. (Note to guys in America reading this--a girl does NOT want to see this kind of decor in your car!)

--Shopping is always fun. I can't read labels, except if they are written in English. I was looking for some hair gel last weekend and found a brand that claimed it was for "naughty hair". I wasn't quite sure what that meant. Was it for unruly, hard to manage (aka "naughty hair") hair? Or was it stating it could give you "naughty" hair?