Well it is Sunday morning in Hong Kong - Saturday afternoon in Seattle.
Yesterday between breakfast and lunch Rob lost his voice.
Bless his heart

He still took us around the area. This is just too big to describe.We can look out the window and see the housing for at least 10,000 people. There is a little gap between buildings where we can see off into the "hills".
We took the train a couple times - it costs $0.20 U.S. per stop.
We had lunch at home, a little rest and then off again.
Jen takes break dancing lessons. That is not what I picked. (It is not like Michael Jackson's stunts and struts). It is more like exercising ( I will come up with a better word later - I did get a little video )

Did you know they drive on the other side of the street here? This used to be British Hong Kong. So the cars have their steering wheel on the other side and you have to look the other way before crossing the streets. Also, they have only double decker buses! We are going to ride one to church this morning. I am still in my robe, so I better draw things to a close.

I have to say that Jen and Rob are so easy to be with and they love the Hong Kong way of treating guests so effortlessly and generously. We are overwhelmed.

After leaving Seattle on Thursday, we arrived in Hong Kong about midnight Friday, and it is already Saturday .
We passed so many tall buildings along the way, in the dark, but will be taking more photos as we go.
Jen, Rob and their friend Ringo met us at the airport. Ringo has a van, so we were able to get a door to door pick up and delivery.
Jen's apartment is in the New Territories. She is on the 21st floor. We are staying in the master bedroom. The bed is right up against the window - overlooking 6 other very large apartment buildings. 38 stories on the one directly across from us. The windows appear to be floor to ceiling and many have clothes hanging on a curtain rod. Many windows have iron bars along the lower 1/3 of the window. Jen's windows do not open, except one with a decorative bar across.
i am sitting on the sofa in the living room. I can see between two very tall buildings, a green hill and then a mountain beyond. This is so amazing.
I am not looking down.

For breakfast, we went to Jen's favorite Saturday morning spot. The other three had a Chinese noodle dish with tea. I had eggs, bacon, toast and coffee .
just a note: it is very important to wash your hands and be aware of germs here and there. We were served little plastic glasses of warm tea, but Jen put all the silverware into her mug. That gave an extra "wash" to the utensils. Then, just before visiting the restroom, she asked if I had any tissue. There is no "tissue" in their bathrooms.

What do you notice first in this picture?

What do you notice first about this picture ?
You might notice the daffodils; it is spring now you know.
Or, the birds on the mug and on the ring around the flowers.
Or, if you are like me, you notice….the shortbread. Yes it was very good shortbread. I know, because that is the one cookie I make. Though my Scottish friend, Zina, who gave me the recipe says they are not cookies they are shortbread.
My friend Betty made them. I had one at our BSF lunch, and then, I went back and got another. By then I was too full to eat it, so I tucked it into my lunchbox.
When it was time to clean up, Betty came and said I could take some shortbread home. Take 6, she said. Well, Betty doesn’t know that I am not good with numbers. I am good with shortbread. I looked around for something to pop them into and all I could find was my mug. I always bring a mug to pot lucks because coffee stays warmer in a pottery mug. And because I have several with photos of my grandchildren, like the one today. And because they have a larger capacity.
So for this purpose, I was able to pop 7 shortbread inside. That, along with the one in my lunchbox, make a very pretty plate.
You’ll have to excuse me, I can smell the fresh coffee and there are just so many cookies ( I mean hours ) in a day.

Who takes pictures at the Hospital?

Well someone who wants to get your attention? Or someone who loves flowers? Someone who had to find out if they were real or not?
Maybe all three.
They were in the lobby at Harborview Hospital, where I visited the xray department. If you prefer not to read the entire dialog - nothing gorey - the outcome was good.
Well, here goes
CT Angio
So, if you have been there, you know what I am talking about. BUT, if you haven’t been there, let me explain a little. The CT stands for Cat and I don’t know what that means. The angio, means needle in your vein and I DO know what that means. It was just a little prick by this very nice technician, Terryn. I have been through that before at the blood bank and doctors office, etc. But this is the third time my mind just sort of panicked. There might be another definition for it, but for me it was this wave of anxiety, confusion and feeling just plain not good. So Terryn very calmly talked to me and got me some water and assured me there is nothing more than an empty needle in my arm. Nothing going in or coming out yet. So, after reclining the chair, a little more water, and praying, I was ready for the real thing. I told Terryn that lots of people were praying for me and she said I was in a good position. I tried to ask her what position she was in, but I guess she did not hear me, and I thought I better just do what I am told.
Into the xray room I go. I lie down on a very long narrow table. Terryn makes sure my head is very still and puts towels on either side to make sure I could not move. Then she tells me what will happen when the dye is injected. You get very warm, actually hot, and you think you are going to wet your pants. You do get very hot, but you don’t wet your pants . The table moves into a very ginormous donut. Not the kind that comes with coffee. You move in and out and pretty soon its over.
You say thank you ( actually, I told Terryn I wish I had some chocolate for her because she was so good to me – the lollipops in my purse did not interest her )
She told me to drink lots of water, and have a good time in Hong Kong. I think I will.
( If she saw anything really wrong, she would not have sent me home )

Nita turns 31

Hubby Christian planned a dinner party for a few friends and family. Very delicious Greek food and plenty of beverages. Cookies and more cookies ( who needs birthday cake ) The only thing that might have taken center stage...Sebastian. ( but Auntie Nita is fine with that)

Good company for breakfast

Homemade Banana Bread, toasted with a touch of butter. Sounds like a way to start my day. Then I saw it. Tina's lemon meringue pie on the second shelf in the frig.
Toasted Banana Bread with a touch of butter, medium slice of Tina's lemon meringue pie. That is what I am talkin about.
thanks mimi for the bread, thanks tina for the pie