Ahhh...It's As If We Never Left

Ok- we made it out of Chicago and we found our luggage waiting for us at LaGuardia. I envisioned me fighting with the baggage claim about our luggage. I even envisioned it floating around somewhere in the world. Ok, I admit I have an overactive imagination. I picked up a SIM chip for my cell phone and the phone has been ringing off the hook since I sent out the phone number in an email. My father-in-law laughed when consecutive calls came in...he said "She's back in business."

We tried to get back into the swing of things and resume our normal day to day routine. I booked the doctor appointments and we were off and running. It felt as if we never left. My doctor thought it was a mistake that my name showed up on his calendar. Irma, his assistant laughed as well. They didn't think it was possible for me to show up for an appointment. They thought I was going to do it through a teleconference from China. HAH!!

We stopped by to see the house and meet our tenants. Harald is a very nice person and we're very happy that he and his wife Marlene are being very proactive on the upkeep of our home. Strange to find someone living in our home with different furniture but nice that they are responsible tenants.

We have a ton of commitments over the next few weeks before Tony leaves to return to Shanghai. Funny how things just fall into place. It's as if we never left. Tony and I have been driving...something we haven't done since we've left. It's been good. Tony's been busy perusing over car magazines (something that you can't find in English in Shanghai) and trying to figure out what to get when he returns. PUHLEEZ. We have another two years on this assignment. There will be a ton of new cars out before we return. Then again, this is his hobby...something that keeps him busy and I know he will be surfing the net to keep up with the cars.

So, it's good that things don't change while we're gone. We had dinner with Belle and Steve at London Lennies this evening. Yes- we did the raw bar and it was GOOD. May and I were busy with the clams, oysters and steamers. I was savoring everything since I can't get this stuff in Shanghai. We devoured the garlic bread and we've already made plans to return one more time before I leave. I gave instructions to Belle and Steve that if they come to Shanghai...they have to find a way to smuggle the garlic bread in. Steve said he will douse himself in garlic and he'll figure out what to do with the custom inspectors.

We're going to see the Tony and Gus tomorrow night for dinner. The eating marathon has begun.