Do I head into Chengdu Lu (Chengdu street) and the fabric market to have some shirts made, maybe walk along the Bund or around town - OR do I stay here in Jia Ding, walk around town, visit the parks and see what's happening here after catching up on grading!?!  I have been debating with myself for a couple of days as I have a slight cold and a little run down feeling - the rest would be good ... so leaning towards getting caught up.  Also want to get some errands done and payday is on Monday so it is always better to wait until AFTER payday to spend money.  Sorry, that's the financial economist in me, being frugal!  I am ALSO working on saving enough to spend 3 weeks skiing in Salt Lake City!  Have to visit San Diego (mom and the Conways) too.  I believe that vacation will start the end of January, but the Universities here in China RARELY decide ANYTHING until the LAST minute.  Therefore, planning a trip, buying airline tickets, etc. is tough.  No worries, I will figure it out!

There is a nice central square in Jia Ding and TOO many people for shopping - the two department stores in town are crazy on Saturday and Sunday so we usually stay out of them.  Yes, even worse that in the US!  As I have Thursday off, I will most likely plan to venture into Shanghai (as I have in the past) to see the sites, have a nice meal, etc. then.

Let's see what kind of picture I can find for this morning...



Ah yes, the sunrise over the crater rim at Crater's Edge resort in between Managua and Granada, Nicaragua - January 2007.  The dorm room was just up from the water so that the waves put one to sleep, lightly crashing on the shore - for $10 per night.