Good morning and 早上好!

Today is Friday and it’s been one of those weeks when every day feels like Friday, but then, cruelly, isn’t. I swear, on Tuesday I woke up thinking it was Friday. 

But here we are and happy days are here again. 

We’ve been talking a lot around here about our recent move to China and how we’re settling in. One aspect of this new life is that I’m having to get used to working again. I know, boo hoo for me. But with a long sabbatical followed by working remotely and on a 12-hour time zone difference, well, I’m out of practice. The effort required to physically go to the office every day, and dress in something other than the ratty T-shirts I prefer is tiring.

I like the structure of working, the feeling of productivity, checking actual items off an actual to-do list, but man! I really appreciate Friday more than ever right now.

We’re gearing up for a fun weekend around here. We’re planning to visit one of Shenzhen’s most famed tourist destinations, Window of the World, an amusement park of sorts filled with miniature replicas of the world’s greatest monuments. I hear there’s a mini Grand Canyon. Then, on Sunday, we’re taking a short train ride to Guangzhou, the ‘big city’ in this area (14M versus Shenzhen’s 13M or so). I have a work thing there on Monday, so we’ll spend Sunday exploring.

In anticipation of all that activity, today I plan on hunkering down during my free time at the office with a whole lotta nothing. Internet, please keep me company at 3pm when I start to fade, and need to keep up the facade of working for another few hours.

Hope your weekend is full of the equivalent of mini Eiffel Towers and Chinese mega cities. Cheers!

Add Coca-Cola to the list of brands who want in on the fiber game.

There’s a brand new color in town.

Will they add the new blue to this?

The heroin business is booming in America. #surprisednotsurprised

Another profitable business? Breakfast.

Truth: Planning a wedding will take exactly as much time as you have.

Also, I’m glad I got married before the #hashtag.

I think we’ve finally learned how to move house.

Why it’s so hard to admit you’re wrong.

The lessons I want to learn from Ina is long, but include wearing the same uniform every day and having a bowl of citrus on the counter at all times. Life goals.

A doughnut that is definitely worth it. Or is it donut?

How much does it really cost to live in a tiny house?

8 ways to thrive in mid-life. I love the idea of always being a rookie at something.

I have a weird thing with wanting to know what is in people’s luggage.

Funny people are everywhere.

Write like John Grisham.

All I want to eat these days is cold noodles.

And ice cream.

Simultaneously insane and amazing.

The fascinating careers of celebrity ghostwriters.

Was it only a month ago that we were road tripping around the Northeast US?

If you want to feel better about the bureaucracy in your life, check out our Chinese visa saga – part 1 and part 2.

Happy Friday friends. 再见