Rich's Christmas observations

1. I'm not the only guy in town that wraps gifts to look like a spitball

2. shopping for your wife on christmas is culturally acceptable in asia

3. taxi drivers in hong kong are perpetually talking on phones while they drive.....most interesting experience for me was christmas eve....returning home from the office, my taxi driver literally had a bluetooth device hanging on each ear. three phones were mounted on phone holders on his dash board. and he had 3 conversations going on simultaneously....if i didn't know better, i'd think he was a spy from mainland china.....truly a remarkable experience.....had me wondering the whole way home

November/December 2009

Hi everyone,

I am a month overdue, so I will try to keep my update short and to the point.

First, Riley and Seamus returned safely from their week long outdoor education trips in China. Riley went to Monganshan and Seamus went to Beijing.

Second, Annie and I went to Taiwan for her swim meet. Other than the 5am wake up calls each morning the trip was great. Annie moved up to the next squad and I made two new friends-a successful weekend.

Third, our Thanksgiving in Hong Kong was lovely. Here are a few pictures:

We had Thanksgiving with the compound. Our compound consists of 4 townhouses with a shared carport. The townhouses are numbered 1,2,3 and 5. 4 is an unlucky number for the Chinese. House 1 is an Australian family with 4 boys-the oldest (17 year old boy) is at boarding school, then a 15 year old boy , 13 year old boy (Seamus' bud) and an 8 year old boy (Bubba's bud). House 2 (Korean-American family) has a 15 year old boy and an 11 year old girl (Annie's friend). And House 5 (Indian-American) has an 11 year old girl (Annie again) and an 8 year old boy (Conor's bud). A typical Friday night is all the kids convening at the Evan's house (#1) for dinner and a movie. We count this as one of our many blessings this Thanksgiving season.

Following Thanksgiving Rich and the boys traveled to Singapore for a rugby tournament. The teams fared well. The highlight of the weekend was the evening tour of the Singapore Zoo.

Now in the Christmas season, we had the pleasure of watching Seamus and Riley perform in their xmas shows. Riley sang with the middle school jazz band and Seamus performed with the advanced middle school band. I will include the link of Riley singing and Seamus drumming but don't tell them you got it from me!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7kh2Wo6Nvc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAHP1O-7ucM

The kids are in their last week of school. Rich is in New York and I am here holding down the fort. My new favorite past time is mahjong-chinese version....I am now a Tuesday regular at the American Club.

We will celebrate Christmas in Hong Kong with 5pm family mass at St. Anne's followed by a holiday party and dinner at the American Club. Christmas day we will head to the Maguire's for a Mexican fiesta. Jim (Maguire) has known me since childhood and witnessed Rich and my courting in New York, it is serendipitous that we are together again in Hong Kong.

Do not fret....we are not sending a Christmas card this year. This doesn't mean we don't love and think of you all often. Basically we haven't taken a picture that is worthy of sending! We head to Bali on the 26th of December, if all goes well, we will have a nice family shot to send....I promised the kids no bathing suit shot....I guess I have a habit of sending those.

God bless you all today and always.

Merry Christmas,

Mary, Rich and kids