sports, puppies and IKEA

sorry, we've been lagging on the blogging. it's been a fast couple of weeks and we suddenly realized we'd broken our post-even-if-random rule. i was in HK for work, D had a bigger lecture to give, and we just finished a few days of raucous birthday celebrating for D.

some randomness since our last post...

last sunday, on our way out in the morning, we realized it might take us a bit longer than usual. because the beijing marathon was going past our apartment. literally. here's a shot of the runners. there were a bunch of dudes doublefisting it with chinese flags. pretty impressive. we had to do some circuitous maneuvering with the scooter (over pedestrian bridges, etc.) to get to service on time...sort of.

we finally got our passports back, with residence permits, after six weeks. after all the drama and delays -- including multiple visits to the entry exit bureau and having to have our real marriage license fedexed from the states -- we just walked in, paid, and picked them up. we were very very very thankful. literally just in time, as i was going to HK in two days.

J&M beijingdou organized a bunch of us to go watch the China Open...they strategically bought Men's Quarterfinals tix and we ended up getting to watch Nadal play Safin!! whoohooooooo. it was really fun, especially the random tennis ball dude and guys on stilts. buy one get one papa john's pizza slices. oh and the chinese cheerleaders performing near the entrance (oh mickey you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind...)

been making friends with the old homeless man with the puppies. he told me their names are doudou. both of them. i asked him how he tells them apart and he said they don't mind being the same...or something like that, i wasn't totally sure. they're such good puppies...they just sit under a tree and chill with him all day. i wonder what will happen when they get bigger.

with the weather getting colder, we made a trip to the local IKEA to get a comforter and other assorted necessities. D hates IKEA...not even the ice cream and hot dog (that is strangely white and gross-looking) at the end make it better. i think it's partly because local people treat it like an amusement park ("what do you want to do this saturday? let's go to IKEA and get some foreign food and hang out!!") so it's always ridiculously crowded. here are some folks chilling in a living room display

miss you guys. more later...