Will & Tracy

This is our blog

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

It's cold!

Hey we are supposed to be latitude as New Orleans and as my weiner dogs are basking in the sun of central Florida with my folks, I'm learning that concrete is a poor insulator and in addition to our wall heaters in each room, we've enlisted the help of 2 additional space heaters... and who thought the marble floors looked great when we first looked at the apartment. My feet are FREEZING! Yes, Grandma, I'm wearing my slippers.

With this recent snowfall (the worst in 15-20 years in Shanghai, but in other parts of China the worst in 50 years), it has been pretty incredible to witness "when crazy drivers go completely insane." I thought I had a good laugh each Texas winter when we would get a dusting of snow and the national news would cover all the bubbas doing donuts on I-35 because they thought just because they had a truck with 4wd, they could still drive at the normal speed limit. My biggest take home lesson from my Michigan driving experience while in Texas is it is best to just stay off the road with these goof balls.

China - home of the bicycle and automobiles and trucks with no 4wd and sketchy maintenance history (what, your brakes are not supposed to squeal and grind?), are all still on the road together still trying to cut each other off and going at normal speeds in this stuff. Will was headed to Wuxi (about 2 hours outside of Shanghai) with his boss yesterday - their eureka momemt when they decided that "this may not be such a good idea" is when other drivers were passing them at all speeds and several loose tires did as well, that and their car started to fishtail.

And if I wanted to avoid putting my life into the hands of one of these insane cab drivers and instead walk - I quickly note that sidewalks in Shanghai are just as treacherous without ice and snow, so I decided not to venture out really at all yesterday. Instead I watched the huge snow flakes fall and the fashionistas of Shanghai try to walk around in heels. I could say - They'll learn, but we probably won't see this again for a while.

4 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hope you are still inside...pic's on the news shows china in chaos to get home for the new year celebrations...should be 80's here today..the boys love it...wish you were here!!!love mom

10:17 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Lebel~
I feel your pain about the snow. We got about 6 inches overnight so needless to say, the drive to work was an experience. The thing about Michigan drivers is we all know that when the roads are shit, you slow down (unless you are a semi and you get the run of the road). It is pretty to look at though. Remember when we would snowmobile on G & G's pond or go sledding down the huge hill behind the Brooklyn house. Awww, snow isn't so bad.

2:16 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Forgot to say...Love ya!
Carie
ps...we are celebrating Chinese New Year next week in Preschool. Have any ideas or info I can share with them? Pics would be nice too. Send anything you'd like to share to my email.
xoxo

2:18 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Speaking of weiner dogs in Florida...
Picture your brown weiner dog riding in grandmas golf cart with dad driving.
Wyatt becomes curious as he is standing on the floorboard watching the ground move by at about 4 MPH. Obviously lacking dog knowledge in the laws of physics, he decides to jump out onto the grass. Unscathed except for a grass stain on his butt he jumps back on the cart.
Repeat the second paragraph above about 30 seconds after the first mishap. Is your dog smart or what... Yes, he did it again, this time executing a perfect 3-revolution barrel roll in the grass next to the road. No damage done except your parents' questioning the intelligence of one of your dogs!
Dad

8:22 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home