The Beatles are playing more in heaven today, welcoming Bill— 18 August, 1961 (Lake Placid, NY, USA) – 01 May 2021 (Zurich, Switzerland) Fellow vegetarian-historian-avid newspaper reader-world traveler… In November, you flew home suddenly from Shanghai to Zürich. Now, you’ve passed on, too soon. Thank you, Bill, for your friendship, fellowship, adoption of little Rocky…
Tag: china
1 Year Ago Today…
…my girlfriend walked me to the subway station in Shanghai—Longxi Road, 10 train. We thought we’d be apart for 21 days. That was January 21st, 2020. By the Grace of G-d, we’ve hung on. Now, with President Biden and Vice President Harris, my hope for return grows and grows. Yet, the pandemic rages. I believe,…
The Virus Factory
“Welcome to The Virus Factory” A. Sports stadiums are packed with 25,000+ fans—No masks, No distancing required. Zero community transmission of virus, after a 49 day hard lockdown. B. “It’s like everything is normal….” ZERO cases of the virus (excepting one diplomat who arrived from abroad). C. Disneyland is open, with no outbreak anywhere in…
Dreaming
Early Saturday morning subway rides through a slowly awakening city Joining/leading our InterSport Running Crew for team training My girlfriend Guilin accompanying me by bike during long runs along Shanghai’s East Bund All you can eat at Lakeside Veggie on weekends Fried rice Steamed buns Guilin’s tomato tofu Pink’s “Fuckin’ Perfect,” my go-to karaoke song…
My Question For YOU:
TOGETHER can we raise $888 by Friday at midnight? (8 being the most fortuitous number in Chinese culture) All it takes is $1—-or more if you can spare it! What I will do for all of you all: Run 42.195 kilometers (26.2 miles) on my 42nd birthday, which is Friday. Can we work together to…
How Has YOUR Life Changed During the Pandemic?
I want to hear from YOU. How has YOUR life changed during the pandemic? Here’s a quick rundown for me: ~Firstly, I want to honor those lives lost. I am consistently shocked by the deaths here in the United States. At least 40,000 lives lost as of today. By the fact that at least 3…
Canceled
Now what?! If you’d told me even 3 days ago: “You will be in the USA on Friday,” I would have replied: “You are insane.” And yet, “here I am,” as Skid Row so aptly said. After this layover, and on into Los Angeles, I honestly do not know what awaits me.
Breaking News from China
(apologies for cut off words) This will most definitely alter the course of my current flight itinerary–I’m at Queenstown, NZ airport now–as well as my life…
The Crossroads
It’s taken around 12 hours in the past two days, not to mention more time over days before, to finally secure a reasonable route out of New Zealand. Very few flight routes are available. Every Southeast Asian nation I can name has closed its borders, even to transiting passengers. Prices are so outrageous you’d be…
8 Week Anniversary in New Zealand
I know I’ve been in New Zealand for a while because… The trees are changing from green to red, gold, yellow. Seasons have changed from my mid-summer arrival, to early-mid fall weather now. Early mornings here on the South Island have been around 33F. My full tube of toothpaste has been depleted: Even though I…
What the F**k is Happening?!
Just received this from boss. If you were here now, in New Zealand, and this was your local neighborhood trail, what would YOU do? I’m in peak marathon condition. I’m consistently running 140+km per week. I’m strong and ready to race. I feel like a prison sentence looms over me like an executioner’s blade.
Are 11% of Americans Drug Addicts? And Assorted Other Chinese Questions, Part I
What are some questions Chinese people who’ve spent their entire lives–in most cases–in mainland China have for an American? I’ve asked a number of folks in Shanghai, men and women–although most responses below are from women. A sampling, in no certain order [translated from Mandarin by me if not using ” “, sent to me…
