Pics from Taipei 101

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Still the tallest building in the world - just a couple hours from home.





These pics are the last of the lot I meant to post from our Taipei trip Mon-Tues. Things I forgot to remember here:

• Ivo was sooooo happy in the hotel room, he ran/bounced around the room eventually head-crashing into a heavy wood sofa - he has a yellowish lump on his forehead
• Ivo saw a poor soul begging outside the Shi Lin Market; he was prostrating himself, repeatedly hitting his head on the ground, jangling a bowl scant with coins (a common mannerism among Asia's physically handicapped destitutes). Ivo gasped and asked What dat? Ryan told him that the man is asking for money. After a pause, a disturbed Ivo said, He no have fingers... Aiy Aiy. Ryan said he'll never forget that interaction. It's so hard. I barely know how to handle the destitute-homeless-physically handicapped; I gave plentifully (food, money) my first year in NYC, 1987-88. And certainly, handling or how to conduct oneself while passing by desperate people who are clearly not faking, is only one piece of the puzzle. I have trouble reconciling being a have co-existing with so many have-nots. And one of the least satisfactory things adults ever handed me was the "life's not fair" cliche. Talk about "life's not fair." What should we teach Ivo and Burl about the awful roll-of-the-dice capriciousness of luck in life and HOW do we do it? I don't want them to be crippled by compassion nor do I want them to become Calvinist-trickle-down monsters.

Ivo n Burl Get Ready for School

Pics from Shi Lin Night Market. Ivo did NOT want to exchange those fish he caught for the crappy party-blower Aiyi wanted to give him. Sad and sucky. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

There are tons of puppy stores in the market; selling baby miniature dogs. The shops are small, the cages tiny and metal. One dog we saw was shaking. These dogs are pretty expensive; it's strange to see them in such conditions cuz who would spend so much money on an animal who spent its formative weeks/months in such a cold, unloving environment?+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ivo overheard:

• It ok, Papa/Mama. Don't worry. (Ivo's been saying this for about a month, so he started to express COMPASSION around 31 months. He'd been telling Burl It ok, Burl and saying oh, poor guy for several months - but that was usually at our behest or in direct imitation of what we'd said. Ivo now can sense frustration or sadness and wants/acts to alleviate it. Cool guy.)
• (Lying in bed, waiting to watch Superman this afternoon, Ivo was holding his arm in front of his face to shield his eyes from the sun-thru-the-window) Look at my... Look at...my... Look...my... Your hair? (Ivo appeared happily struck by lightning) YES! Look at my haa-ir! I HAVE HA-IR ON MY ARM!

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I went to the nursery school today to make sure everything is ok for Monday. I got 2 school backpacks and 1 set of dishes and a lunchbag. OMG - so cute! Ivo wore his backpack everywhere we went today. He was quite conscious of it. He knew he looked cool and was super pleased whenever he caught a glimpse of himself!

Burl awake - gotta go.

Headcold Central

Ivo, Burl and I haven't left the house today. We do not feel well. I hope, hope, hope that the boys are better by Monday - their first day of school. I know Monday is 4 days away - but Ivo's been coughing for 10 days! So I'm hoping for the best.

Ryan got his schedule and it's GOOD. Amazingly good. Yay!

Tomorrow we - or at least, I - must go to finalize daycare enrollment.
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So, here are some pics from Taipei Sea World. We had fun - but it's a weird place. We didn't realize it isn't government sponsored. It's located in an apartment building! It boasts several levels, narrow staircases - no elevators, dangerously uneven floors. The slapped-togetherness of the structure reminds me of Chungking Mansions in Hong Kong - without the elevators. Imagine the audacity of vision! Hey the apartment kitty-cornered to us is for sale. Let's buy it, knock out a wall or two and make an aquarium! Maybe we can rent some space in the basement and get one of those inflatable castles filled with plastic balls too...
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"To me the expeience of being on mescalin and the experience of being psychotic were quite different." -Elyn R. Saks, Associate Dean and Orrin B. Evans Professor of Law, Psychology, and Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at USC and paranoid schitzophrenic.

Ivo & Burl Taipei Round-up Pt. 1

Pics from bus, restaurant and hotel jacuzi! We stayed in the Shi Lin District which was a fun change from where we usually stay. Lots of food handy plus the hotel is a much better deal.















Today is Ryan's last vacation day. He and Ivo are upstairs watching cartoons and resting. Burl and I are downstairs getting ready to take a bath.
Burl is soooo xin ku/pitiful with his lethargy and teething, his stuffy, coughy, drippy, drooly sleepy sadness. He's slept about 85% of the day (so far). He won't/can't/doesn't sleep unheld. He feels too yucky. Poor guy.

Burl's !st Half Birthday Taipei Trip

Burl turned 6 months yesterday 28 August 07! Yay!

In the week before the 28th, he started sitting on his own and got 2 teeth. Wowie!

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We came home last night - and, sadly, it's clear both boys have COLDS. Boo Hoo! They have to get better before Monday... their first day of school.

We've got some stuff to prepare before school starts. Today, I'm going to St. Jason's to find out details about my classes. I only have class Monday. Wednesday and Friday afternoon... but I'm feelingreluctant about leaving Burl. I'm a little scared of Monday. I think Ivo's gonna LOVE it - even if he doesn't love the first half hour. We're gonna do a little trial running this week, taking the boys in to get more comfortable - but since they're sick, it won't be today. Also, I've got to pump milk! I'd forgotten about that... I need a new pump and a couple bottles...

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More about Taipei next post:)

Ivo the Artist

Ivo got a really great easel from Kevin. Kevin made it! Not only is it a chalk board. It's magnetic as well!

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This piece is called Big Head Baby - named and executed entirely by the artist himself. When I said how much I like it and asked if I could take a picture of Ivo with his drawing - this is what we got...

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Ivo's a beautiful shade of proud!

Burl and his Magic Teeth

When Burl went to bed last night he had NO teeth. When he woke up this morning he had 2 teeth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yay!

This pic is as good as I could get. The teeth are very small. I don't think you can see them - but you can see where they are. Burl is drooly, still happy. He hardly noticed the teeth/teething. But I did! This morning's booby-gumming had BITE! Go Burl!

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All pics from this full moon morning!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hmmm

I guess I should have seen this coming when I chose "the ability to change water into wine" as my superpower...

Your Personality Is Like Alcohol

You're the life of the party, a total flirt, and probably a pretty big jokester. Sometimes your behavior gets you in trouble, but you still remain socially acceptable. You're a pretty bad driver, and you're dancing could also use a little work!

What Drug Is Your Personality Like?

Ivo & Burl Birthday Bash Bonanza!

Ivo and Burl on the verge of their big day. Yes, the cereal spilled. I think growing so fast might be messing with Ivo's coordination. We left the house about 10am. Ryan still feels crappy but has some meds and drove us to the closest thing we have to a "hometown" - Chung Hua, on the He Mei border!

We only have a few pics from Gwen's swimming party, cuz, water and camera. Much fun. As often is the case, Ivo took a long time to warm up - he didn't really go super nuts but definitely had fun. The kids closest to him in age are Olivia (03/04), Josie (07/04) and Dylan (03/05). I think if he'd had more time or a little more familiarity with the place, he'd have been more comfortable. Both Ivo and Burl loved the boat.

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We got home about 2pm and napped til 3:30 when the boys and I beat feet to Zoe's 2nd bday party. This crowd was much more Ivo's age, plus beautiful baby Emily just 2 months old! Of Olivia's brother, Ivo said "I like dat guy. Dat guy ok." Ivo ate his weight in a combination of gummy and sour gummy candies. He'd never seen them before - he couldn't control himself. He loved playing with the kids - and - skipping over to the treats table for more sugar.

And even more good news on the nursery school front. Isabel and Olivia had recommended us to the school their kids go to cuz it accepts part-time students, is play- not lesson-based, has an on-site nurse, takes babies, and it is overall a nice place owned and run by good folks. So now, rumor has it that there are gonna be as many as 10 foreign kids at the school. This is great! This is unheard of and wonderful! While still a minority, Ivo's not only not gonna be the only one, he'll almost blend! It's all well and good to be stand out in a crowd (more so if that's what yr going for) but it can wear on a guy... Also this school is SMALL, so 10 foreign kids might comprise a quarter to a third of attendees.

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On our way home we passed one of the newest ad-sound trucks - it's got video going on all sides but the front!

Couple of videos from 14 August

Maybe It's Ketchup!


Burl and Heather Head-shake

Coming up (yellow) Roses

There's a lot of good stuff about Texas but let's just say I'm not thrilled with this Country Quiz which declared "YOU'RE TEXAS!" Yes, I like spicy food. Yes, I prefer a warm climate. No, I don't care for soccer. But, my god, Texas? There was no question about how I feel about guns, irrigation or capital punishment... Can't I be a tropical island nation? What about Palau? - They use US money - they probably don't love soccer... It's all soccer isn't it? I don't really like ANY sports. I certainly don't like big-rigs or oil wells... redneck?

You're Texas!

You aren't really much of your own person, but everyone around
you wishes you'd go away, so you might as well be independent. You're
sort of loud-mouthed and abrasive, but you do have a fair amount of power. You
like big trucks, big cattle, and big oil rigs. And sometimes you really
smell. But it's not all bad, you're big enough to have some soft spots
somewhere in all that redneck madness.


Blue Pyramid

Papa sicker, better now?

• You a big bad monster. You a big ephalent monster!




• Duuuuuuh! Duuuuuuh!!!!! (ok, Ivo, let's choose a quieter game) duuh...duuuh!




• I need mooore.




• No spitting a Burl.




• Listen a mama.




• Hey, man!




• What you name?




• I like dat girl. Dat a nice girl.




• (sing-song-y) My friend D-man.




• No touch de ha-ir!




• (in a little voice) I just a little boy. (very funny when Ryan uses the voice to say, "I just a little Papa...")

Yesterday Ryan had a 39.2C fever. He says if he's still sick today, he'll go to the doctor. The boys and I brought him beverages and panadol and then stayed out all day. We met Heather, Ciro and D-man at Mitsukoshi where we window-shopped, ate lunch and saw the penguin movie, Surf's Up. It was awesome. Fun time. I liked the movie much much more than Happy Feet. The animation was so pretty and I got a calming instructive sensation about everyone having their own ways to do things and they're all valid and workable. Kind of a relief that not everyone has to do things my way! Ivo fell asleep after the first hour, Dylan shortly after. I don't think Ivo knows he slept. He's been telling me that he will go surfing in the ocean!

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On Wednesday afternoon, Ivo, Burl and I went to Baby World to check out day care options. It was VERY NICE. Ivo wants to go to school and will go 3 afternoons/week even if I don't get teaching hours this semester. More about theschool soon.