1. Zac and new girlfriend, Sarah, are on their way down for the holidays!
2. I just finished my pre-Christmas cooking - All the dishes that can be made ahead and frozen are DONE. Yeast Oatmeal rolls, Banana Nut Bread, Squash Casserole, Mash Potato Casserole, Mac and Cheese and of course 2 types of cookies. I still have 4 last minute dishes/desserts to make on Christmas Eve but the messy stuff is done! Turkey and Brisket is being done by Southern Soul....
3. I think I have almost "jumped thru all the hoops" that my China NUDT university has put in my path. I was required to get a health exam using an approved Chinese form, which is a normal physical along with blood tests, Chest x-ray, and EKG. All those are now DONE -BUT were rejected because they were missing the all important and required "stamp". After lots of pondering between the doctors and nurses we decided that maybe China would be happy with the pages being notarized. We will see...
4. I finally got my flight tickets changed. I had purchased tickets to go to Changsha, China the beginning of February so I could travel around with Cynthia during China's Spring Festival. BUT NUDT wouldn't let me arrive then (even though I had a Multi-entry passport good till May 2011) for reasons only they understand.... It took me 90 minutes ON HOLD with DELTA to make the changes along with an extra 250 bucks. I am now arriving 2 weeks later, which is when we start work. No traveling or time to adjust for jet lag or getting settled in-- just start working. But the tickets are purchased and packing has begun and hopefully all the frustrations have ended.
