Monthly Archives: December 2016

Fine

In 1992, my late grandmother made a last minute decision to treat the Young family to a Mediterranean cruise.  I was a senior in high school and the dates of the trip overlapped with my Advanced Placement tests. At 17 … Continue reading

Posted in Roma | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Enlightenment FLASHBACK

Okay, the wounds of my Tibet trip are finally scabbing over.  This photo is a great metaphor:  Debbie was trying to take a beautiful picture and one of Tibet’s seemingly infinite feral dogs wandered into the shot and spoiled it. … Continue reading

Posted in 西藏 | Tagged | Leave a comment

Solstice

It’s raining.  I’m sitting here at the airport in Pudong, waiting to fly through the longest night of the year.

Posted in 上海 | 1 Comment

Loyalties

 It is part of the Rebel alliance and a cookie!  Take it away!

Posted in 上海 | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Inferno

 How hot was the Sichuan hot pot I had with Robyn & Nafees?  Just look at the price.

Posted in 上海 | Leave a comment

Shiny

They hung this gaudy Christmas ornament in my apartment building’s (mirrored) elevator.  Hooves, red.  Tail, red.  Antlers, red.  Nose, not red. Get your shit together, China.

Posted in 上海 | Leave a comment

Campanology II

 They opened a Taco Bell in Shanghai!  In Pudong!  As a student of all things bell, I felt obliged to try it. Main thing that was different from Taco Bell in the U.S.:  booze.Main thing that was the same as … Continue reading

Posted in 上海 | Tagged | Leave a comment

Throw

I used to do this all the time.  Like most weekends.  But think this might have been the first time I’ve done it here in China:  I watched back-to-back movies. After watched The Great Wall (in IMAX 3D), I immediately watched Sully … Continue reading

Posted in 上海 | Tagged | Leave a comment

Achievement II

I’ve unlocked another achievement.  While in China, I saw The Great Wall.  No, not that one.  The movie. It’s about Jason Bourne (doing a sketchy Irish accent) and Oberyn Martell in China defending the Great Wall like it’s Helm’s Deep. … Continue reading

Posted in 上海 | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Time

Cover version by Tori Amos: Lyrics by Tom Waits: Well the smart money’s on Harlow and the moon is in the street And the shadow boys are breaking all the laws And you’re east of East Saint Louis and the … Continue reading

Posted in 上海 | Tagged | Leave a comment

Yuletide II

Last night, I walked in to the 7-Eleven around the corner from my apartment in Jing’an only to find all the clerks wearing Coca-Cola Santa hats and The Waitresses’ “Christmas Wrapping” playing.  Felt like home.  

Posted in 上海 | Tagged | Leave a comment

Everest FLASHBACK

Debbie just sent me this reverse angle of me and that Australian tour group we kept crossing paths with as we all watched sunset at Mount Everest. On the left in red is Rachel from Australia, standing over my shoulder … Continue reading

Posted in 珠穆朗玛峰 | Tagged | 4 Comments

Home II

“Skies change, not cares, for those who cross the seas.” –Seamus Heaney “Flight Path”

Posted in 上海 | Leave a comment

Megatall II

Sometimes I sympathize with the Shanghai Tower.  After getting the “white giant discount” visiting M50, Debbie captured this shot of me standing next to an are-you-fucking-with-me doorway.  It reminded me of a few other Shanghai photos. This is me exiting … Continue reading

Posted in 上海 | Tagged | 1 Comment

Panda II FLASHBACK

A year ago — on the epic tour of China I took Debbie on through Datong, Xi’an, and Dujiangyan — we splurged on an absurdly expensive opportunity to take one-on-one pictures with a young panda at a different Panda research … Continue reading

Posted in 都江堰 | Tagged , , | 1 Comment